Does your company make you try to donate to United Way?

[sze5003]

yes, and one year I opted out, and my annual review that year was really bad, then I signed up to donate a few bucks every paycheck the next yr, and my review was good that year. I've been donating every yr since...not sure if there is any correlation, but I am not gonna chance it.

Yeah I'm sure people that donate at my company go through the same thing. My reviews have never been bad but they are always finding ways to stop you from moving up or using you at an entry level position to do intermediate/senior level work then when it comes down to review the criteria changes all of a sudden.

I was told by a coworker who really valued my work that if I wanted to move up to the next level to participate in all the events they have and then post out to a different manager, a note will go to my current manager and then I'll be called in and asked why I want to leave this team, that way the manager can directly move you to the next level. Otherwise they just keep you where you are and load you with work.

The charity and donation thing gets passed around a lot at my company weather it's united way or some other bake sale/cultural fundraiser thing.

I like that we get one day a year to take off and use as a volunteer day where we can go volunteer at a location and still get paid I think. This year my team is doing a cradle for crayons event where we go and spend time with children that are less fortunate, give them toys and school supplies. It's really nice seeing how happy these kids get with the simplest things.

That I can understand because while I was young I was raised in Europe by my grandparents and they were very poor. While other kids got toys for Xmas I was happy with a bag of oranges lol.

 

[WackyDan]

United Way has a history both on the national and the local level of being corrupt and spending way too much on administration costs...salaries, etc.

See here:
http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/nc/ncnews/charlotte-united-way-chief-asked-resign

Seems every 5 to 10 years a local chapter or national leadership is involved in some sort of corrupt bull shit.

There are better charities at the national level and your money does far more good when given locally.

 

[SheHateMe]

The company I work for works VERY closely with the United Way.

 

[Drako]

Please forgo donating to United Way and donate to local charities that you feel are doing good in your community.

 

[John Connor]

Yeah, I was in a silent auction for crap we had from the sales floor at ShopKop where I worked. I won all the crap I put a bid on including a nice Capital Building in a plastic see through case. The thing measures 4 feet long and 2 feet high. When I think of the United Way I think of 9/11. Where did all that money go? I also used to work for Goodwill. Basically a corporate garage sale.

I sometimes give to eBay giving works.

 

[Raincity]

The whole strong arm tactics and reprisals from upper management to those who don't contribute makes the organization appear suspect. Somebody is getting their pockets lined from these nearly forced contributions.

 

[sze5003]

On my last team they didn't really force you as some stated here, but my god was it brought up at every meeting. They do try and make you feel bad if you don't donate. And it wasn't even united way representatives doing this, it was your own coworkers or managers. My guess is managers have to donate so it looks good for PR and set some examples.