Damn, here it comes

[Medicine Bear]

I hate this. Every year we get hit up by our HR Department and the United way to make continuing contributions to them via payroll deduction. I swear it is the worst time of the year. These goons, and yes they are goons, bombard us with emails, signs everywhere, and notices via our time system every time we clock in or out that it is time to give and give us a "suggested contribution per pay period." My suggested contribution per pay period this year? $38.12. Now multiply that by 26 and you get the amount they are trying to shake me down for.

Don't get me wrong, I do give to charities and do so happily. However I hate the way they go about trying to get people to give here at work. Constant reminders, meetings about it. Time clock splash screens, meetings to show you crap Powerpoint presentations(God I hate it when all they do is read EXACTLY what is on screen) and their final tactic guilt.

If people want to give then fine, but don't harass them about it for the second half of September and all of October.

 

[bigrash]

can't you just not contribute? I mean you can always give other ways

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: bigrash
can't you just not contribute? I mean you can always give other ways

These things are usually pressured on people in companies. I've even seen people get looked down at for not giving.

I personally don't give and have no issue saying so to those who ask me to. The United Way no longer supports the Boy Scouts for political reasons, therefore I do not donate.

Edit: Oh, and the signage they put up for this crap must cost a small fortune. Why not use that money a little more wisely?

 

[kranky]

The way I look at is that (like you) I give to charities already. But so many people do not. If the campaign gets people to donate who wouldn't have done so, then I can put up with it.

 

[nakedfrog]

They pushed this hard when I was in the military, too.

 

[Medicine Bear]

Originally posted by: bigrash
can't you just not contribute? I mean you can always give other ways

Oh you can choose not to, but then the guilt trips start. Funny how our anonymous contributions, or lack thereof, seem to be a matter of public record.

They really pressure you hard to make the "suggested contribution" but of course you can give other amounts. Your choices? $10, $20, or $25 per pay period. Now I don't make minimum wage, but many here do or make just above it. Tell me how they are going to afford that kind of money being taken from their check? To some of these folks missing $10 per pay period is a big deal. Last year they had a choice of "other" on the form. I put down .50 per pay period last year. Don't see that option this year.

 

[kranky]

On the forms we get you can put down any amount.

 

[Medicine Bear]

Originally posted by: kranky
On the forms we get you can put down any amount.

Ours were like that in the past. Had your suggested amount and then had a space that said something like "I wish to donate the following amount per pay period" and then had a blank space. Last year it went to the $25, $20, or $10 amounts with checkboxes next to them and also had the space for "other" but this year there is no "other"

 

[insite]

I also do not give to the United Way. All you are doing is adding administrative overhead and making sure that your money gets spread out and given to dozens of charities, many of which (at least in my area) are religious or politically driven and whose beliefs may not correspond with yours.

I also have a horror story to tell- I had a co-worker (beautiful young lady, early 20s) who developed a brain tumor and was left blind. She still wanted to work and we made the needed accomodations, but she needed a way to work. We contacted the United Way (who had brought in MILLIONS from our company in drives) and their response was "have her call a cab." :|

If you get a hassle, just tell them that you support the charity of your choice directly so they receive ALL the money you give. I would like to see them argue with that.

 

[Britboy]

I hate that crap too. They get the big goose egg from me. I'm not going to feel pressured to give money to them. We choose to give money to our church instead.

Last year we went to an online system rather than the old envelope method. The HR girl had about 30 of us in a meeting to do a demo. It started out with the usual 'we must give as much as we can, it's very important and worthwhile etc'.

Then she showed us how to navigate the system and make a donation. What she was too stupid to realize was that because she was in her account when showing this, her last year's donation showed up on the screen, a one-time gift of $15

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: insite

I also do not give to the United Way. All you are doing is adding administrative overhead and making sure that your money gets spread out and given to dozens of charities, many of which (at least in my area) are religious or politically driven and whose beliefs may not correspond with yours.

I also have a horror story to tell- I had a co-worker (beautiful young lady, early 20s) who developed a brain tumor and was left blind. She still wanted to work and we made the needed accomodations, but she needed a way to work. We contacted the United Way (who had brought in MILLIONS from our company in drives) and their response was "have her call a cab." :|

If you get a hassle, just tell them that you support the charity of your choice directly so they receive ALL the money you give. I would like to see them argue with that.

LMAO! They DO!
At the job I worked at about 10 years ago, when someone mentioned that, they said "well, you can donate directly to the United Way to help us reach our goals, and make a note of which charity you want the money to go to on your donation. That way, everyone wins."

I was thinking "that way, you get your bonus for reaching the goal - which results in overall less money going to the charities."

 

[Mr N8]

Ughhh...I HATE the United Way. My employer even steps up the pressure more than that. Last year, they said if we get 95% participation, they will give us a a week of casual dress at work. Now for people working in a bank, apparently that's very exciting. So, if you don't give, you are not only pressured by HR and United Way, but also by your coworkers, who think being able to wear jeans to work is the same as getting a $1000 bonus.

What's worse is that they make us come in AFTER WORK to sit through an 1 hour presentation that's put on by HR and 2 United Way reps. Then, they pressure us to fill out the contribution forms before we leave. It's a bunch of BS. I give A LOT of money to charities that actually use their money for the intended causes. In fact, last year, I didn't give to the United Way, but I did give directly to 2 organizations that the United Way said they were supporting.

 

[kranky]

I choose to donate directly to organizations but the United Way serves a valuable purpose - it enables small charities to get funding.

Many small ones can't afford to publicize their work to the degree necessary to get donations. Without the United Way, many would cease to exist.

 

[brian_riendeau]

I did the $2 minimum per pay period last year so I could get entered into a drawing for some cool prizes. This year we are doing United Way again, but there is no potential price incentive to get people to donate. No contribution from me this year.

 

[Karsten]

Originally posted by: kranky
I choose to donate directly to organizations but the United Way serves a valuable purpose - it enables small charities to get funding.

Many small ones can't afford to publicize their work to the degree necessary to get donations. Without the United Way, many would cease to exist.

If it was not for the corruption within United Way (UW has a BAD track record)...
If they where purposely not giving to faith based organizations like the Boy Scouts...

Sorry, my giving is spend wiser with my local church or other organizations I trust and know to use the money wisely!

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Karsten

Originally posted by: kranky
I choose to donate directly to organizations but the United Way serves a valuable purpose - it enables small charities to get funding.

Many small ones can't afford to publicize their work to the degree necessary to get donations. Without the United Way, many would cease to exist.

If it was not for the corruption within United Way (UW has a BAD track record)...
If they where purposely not giving to faith based organizations like the Boy Scouts...

Sorry, my giving is spend wiser with my local church or other organizations I trust and know to use the money wisely!

I totally agree with you, and I do the same thing. I just wanted to point out that the United Way isn't all bad. I have a couple friends who will use any excuse to not help any charity because some of them aren't perfect.

 

[J0hnny]

I'm a big supporter of using your time as a means to donate. Volunteer to do something instead of just pulling your wallet out. Actions mean more to me than money.

 

[SaltBoy]

I don't contribute to the United Way for all the reasons mentioned above, however, I'm still required to turn in a pledge card when the time comes.

What's funny is that everybody who turns in a pledge card is entered into a drawing. I've won t-shirts and lawn chairs from these drawings, even though I haven't contributed a dime!

 

[captains]

i just throw mine in the garbage..

 

[Medicine Bear]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy
I don't contribute to the United Way for all the reasons mentioned above, however, I'm still required to turn in a pledge card when the time comes.

same here

 

[Medicine Bear]

Great. Just got an email that HR will be here for a lunch meeting today so we can discuss the United Way. Oh joy. Nothing like pizza from the cheapest place in town, ugly fat women(they have some hotties but they never come to these things), and high pressure sales.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Medicine Bear
My suggested contribution per pay period this year? $38.12. Now multiply that by 26 and you get the amount they are trying to shake me down for.

Deal with it. Its good to give. I mean how else will the United Way afford $400,000/year for the CEO's salary.

 

[acemcmac]

Fvck the world. The salvation army gets my money.