Company Rant

[stuman19]

Originally posted by: azazyel
Now let me start off by saying that I don't mind giving to charity but what bugs me is that the company I work for has these United Way meetings once a year and this years is getting closer. Basically what they do is take everyone in the company into a meeting where for an entire hour they talk about how much United Way has helped people, also there are usually a few personal stories and of course the video. This friggen video has to be made by the people who used to do those old heart wrenching phone commercials. All you can do is sit there a watch. Then they pass out donation cards already filled out with all the important details all that is left is for you to enter in the amount.

Personally, I think this whole thing is total crap. The last thing I need in my day is for some people I don't know to try to guilt me into giving them money. If I wanted to feel guilty I would call my mom. It really makes me wonder why the company is so gun ho about this. Do they get some type of tax break for getting a certain amount of employees to give up money?

 

[stuman19]

Originally posted by: azazyel
Now let me start off by saying that I don't mind giving to charity but what bugs me is that the company I work for has these United Way meetings once a year and this years is getting closer. Basically what they do is take everyone in the company into a meeting where for an entire hour they talk about how much United Way has helped people, also there are usually a few personal stories and of course the video. This friggen video has to be made by the people who used to do those old heart wrenching phone commercials. All you can do is sit there a watch. Then they pass out donation cards already filled out with all the important details all that is left is for you to enter in the amount.

Personally, I think this whole thing is total crap. The last thing I need in my day is for some people I don't know to try to guilt me into giving them money. If I wanted to feel guilty I would call my mom. It really makes me wonder why the company is so gun ho about this. Do they get some type of tax break for getting a certain amount of employees to give up money?

Do you work at Best Buy?

 

[Karsten]

United Way is not supporting faith based charitys and even took the Boy Scouts of their list because of the Gay issue a couple years ago (Nutshell: Counselor admited being Gay, although it violates some rules that the Boyscouts had set a long time ago.News Link). As such they are a non worthwhile organization. My company has similar events but I ignore them and are happy to tell them why I don't if they ask.
Issue closed. If you are required to attend bring a book!

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Ornery
United Way Statement on Executive Compensation

• In 2002, Mr. Gallagher will receive a base salary of $375,000. In addition he will receive employee benefits that include housing relocation assistance, car allowance, health, pension benefits and life insurance that includes the continuation of life insurance benefit from a previous employer. An incentive bonus is available if certain objectives, as agreed upon by the Board, are achieved.

Print out that page, bring it to the meeting, staple it to the donation form.

 

[Goth]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: Goth
United Way is crap. Do a Google and find out what percentage of cash donations actually go to help those they claim to help. I think it was something like 20% goes to help those in need.

How about this instead? You do a Google and then come back and share what you find. You're so far off, it's ridiculous.

Sorry, kranky. I see that I got my percentages switched above. About 20% in some cases goes to overhead, not to those in need as I stated earlier. There were some loose guidelines under which many United Way chapters operated a few years ago, which is discussed here. It mentions that up to 62 cents of every dollar of unrestricted dollars went to overhead at the Washington UW, but that's not the norm. According to the article:

The United Way of America reports that on average administrative costs amount to 12.7 percent of total contributions. But because total contributions are inflated by the inclusion of noncash gifts like free computers or the gift of children's coats, expenses are understated.

So, it's more than 12.7%, but most likely not the 20% in the case of the UW of NYC as an average.

Sorry for the screwup above.

 

[gotsmack]

docking $1 from you paycheck for a charity not of your choosing is unethical.

http://www.ewg.org If I actullay had a job I'd donate up to my tax deductable limit to that org.

I discovered it recently and found out that everyday stuff I use has lots of bad stuff in it, I recently switched to 'safer' brands.

as shown here
http://www.ewg.org/reports/ski...ts.php?ewg_cat=Shampoo

 

[HappyPuppy]

I don't like jumping on bandwagons, but UW is the last place I would contribute. They have been proven over and over to have way too high an overhead and you don't get to choose exactly where your money goes.

If you wish to donate to the poor and downtrodden do it through your church or local charity.

 

[dirtboy]

The company I used to work with did that, but it was worse. A day or two after the meeting signup packets were sent to each employee. I threw mine away, since I didn't want to donate, but the person sending it out requested that each person send their packet back regardless of their donation.

I found out later that if you don't send your packet back or if you don't donate that this person will look down upon you. It was so bad that the veteran employees would donate a small amount and many people said I was in for it when they found out I tossed my packet. It's a good thing I don't care about office politics, but crap like that in a small company is weak.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Goth

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: Goth
United Way is crap. Do a Google and find out what percentage of cash donations actually go to help those they claim to help. I think it was something like 20% goes to help those in need.

How about this instead? You do a Google and then come back and share what you find. You're so far off, it's ridiculous.

Sorry, kranky. I see that I got my percentages switched above. About 20% in some cases goes to overhead, not to those in need as I stated earlier. There were some loose guidelines under which many United Way chapters operated a few years ago, which is discussed here. It mentions that up to 62 cents of every dollar of unrestricted dollars went to overhead at the Washington UW, but that's not the norm. According to the article:

The United Way of America reports that on average administrative costs amount to 12.7 percent of total contributions. But because total contributions are inflated by the inclusion of noncash gifts like free computers or the gift of children's coats, expenses are understated.

So, it's more than 12.7%, but most likely not the 20% in the case of the UW of NYC as an average.

Sorry for the screwup above.

Thanks for following up with the facts. 🙂

 

[Kelemvor]

Last place I worked, EVERYONE had to fill out a donation form. Even if you weren't donating anything, you had to fill out a form saying you weren't donating. Was a bunch of crap.

 

[SaturnX]

Yeah, we had a United Way thing... but instead of trying to guilt trip you with movies and personal stories, there was a free all you can ear bbq, and you could buy 50/50 draw tickets, and that was the contribution to United Way. The free food was most excellent.

--Mark