Found out secretary is skipping lunch because she can't afford food

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
There are 3 managers with offices next to each other. She's not my mgr's secretary, but one of the other two. She's been there a little over a year. Lately, it hasnt been that busy in her dept, and her overtime hrs have been cut.

My Mgr's secretary mentions that because of the O/T cut, she's skipping ALOT of meals to save $. She has previous medical bills because of her daughter and uses the food $ for continuous medical bills. She's in her 30's and is a single mom. She's a nice person and my mgr's secretary wants to help.

She's asking for suggestions, but doesnt want to make it look like a handout.

I have no idea on how to make giving $/food and not look like a handout?!

Suggestions?
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: compnovice
Organize a raffle draw.... rig it in her favor...

I like this idea. A gift card to the local supermarket or something like that

EDIT: My company has a lot of those random HR surveys about hte company with a little prize at the end. This year was some Ipod Nanos (that I didn't win). That way, you don't even have to rig up a drawing, just say she won and give it to her.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
Originally posted by: JEDI
There are 3 managers with offices next to each other. She's not my mgr's secretary, but one of the other two. She's been there a little over a year. Lately, it hasnt been that busy in her dept, and her overtime hrs have been cut.

My Mgr's secretary mentions that because of the O/T cut, she's skipping ALOT of meals to save $. She has previous medical bills because of her daughter and uses the food $ for continuous medical bills. She's in her 30's and is a single mom. She's a nice person and my mgr's secretary wants to help.

She's asking for suggestions, but doesnt want to make it look like a handout.

I have no idea on how to make giving $/food and not look like a handout?!

Suggestions?

How much is your company/employees willing to help out?
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
Find some way she can get overtime or better wages, if she deserves that as it sounds like she does then that's fair, and if you explain to her boss the situation then he might agree to it. It isn't a handout, and she can still afford lunch. Either way, tread lightly as she might not want people (especially her boss) to know.
 

J0hnny

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,366
0
0
Give her some more OT if you have some although that would look like favortism.
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Start getting lunch delivered in from somewhere for your area as a 'thank you for service' type deal.

Free food that everyone gets to enjoy makes it seem less like you're targeting her for it and everyone will be happy.
 

Chunkee

Lifer
Jul 28, 2002
10,391
1
81
Gift cards at grocery store is the best idea...we do that at our church when people need help..that way it can be for food or sundries, but not booze, tobacco..etc...it is good to see that you would like to help...it is tough to be in her shoes...i go to church with a lady, single mom, with 3 kids in high school..i gave them a laptop we had a work, a little older but usable,...they are all bright kids but she could not afford a pc for them to do homework and write papers...

help is always a good thing...if more people would do it..
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
Originally posted by: middlehead
Get her a raise?

Yea, first decide how much the company is willing to help out. If they are truely as concerned as you say they are AND they value her being at work, they could just give her a rasie.

If they're thinking more of something like a $50 gift card, they should just keep the money themselves.
 

amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,332
249
106
Pics? :D

I bet she is hot, or you prob wouldn't give a rat's ass. (Don't lie.)

Maybe you can give her some sausage to feast on at work? :thumbsup:

---

I bet you are not hot, or you would not be such a prick about another human being's suffering.

Come back in two weeks, but only if you have learned something about concern for others. If you cannot learn that, do not bother coming back.

AnandTech Moderator
 
Dec 27, 2001
11,272
1
0
Peanut butter and saltines, top ramen, hand made burritos. Just off the top of my head. All cost about a dime per meal and have some nutritive value, so there's no excuse to be skipping a meal completely.
 

theNEOone

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
5,745
4
81
these are all temporary solutions....

i forget the expression, but it's something like "give her a fish and she can eat for a day, teach her how to fish and she can eat for a lifetime."


=|
 

iamme

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
21,058
3
0
Originally posted by: Chunkee
Gift cards at grocery store is the best idea...we do that at our church when people need help..that way it can be for food or sundries, but not booze, tobacco..etc...it is good to see that you would like to help...it is tough to be in her shoes...i go to church with a lady, single mom, with 3 kids in high school..i gave them a laptop we had a work, a little older but usable,...they are all bright kids but she could not afford a pc for them to do homework and write papers...

help is always a good thing...if more people would do it..

i think the environments are a little different. at church people are more apt to accept charity and help, imo.

i'm against the hand outs or anonymous hand outs because that might just embarass her. people do have their pride and as nice as a gesture as it may seem, you want to keep that in mind.

btw, is she skipping meals at home as well? or is she just skipping lunch at work?
 

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
202
106
Have everyone in the office chip in for a private detective, find the father of the child and start beating the money out of him.

On a more practical note, you might want to look around in your area for private charitable organizations that might help out in some way.

-Keith
 

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,819
498
126
Write her a glowing letter of recommendation and help her find a job that pays more with better bennies.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
Originally posted by: theNEOone
these are all temporary solutions....

i forget the expression, but it's something like "give her a fish and she can eat for a day, teach her how to fish and she can eat for a lifetime."


=|

If you teach her how to fish but not how to swim, what happens if she falls in?
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
0
What does she drive? Are her nails done? House or apartment? How big? Does she get child support? How many kids? Previous husband?
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
Originally posted by: Chunkee
Gift cards at grocery store is the best idea...we do that at our church when people need help..that way it can be for food or sundries, but not booze, tobacco..etc...
help is always a good thing...if more people would do it..

you realize you can buy booze and tobacco at grocery stores.
 

Forsythe

Platinum Member
May 2, 2004
2,825
0
0
Originally posted by: Specop 007
What does she drive? Are her nails done? House or apartment? How big? Does she get child support? How many kids? Previous husband?

Because all the poor people are poor because they spend they're money wrong or are lazy.

I bet you're a republican.
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
0
Originally posted by: Forsythe
Originally posted by: Specop 007
What does she drive? Are her nails done? House or apartment? How big? Does she get child support? How many kids? Previous husband?

Because all the poor people are poor because they spend they're money wrong or are lazy.

I bet you're a republican.

I didnt say that at all.
Any other ASSumptions you wish to make?

Its a goood question. If shes skipping lunches and driving home in her shiny BMW every day, do YOU want to help her out?

Some people truly scrape to get by. She could very well be one of them. Since YOU seem to know, why dont you answer my questions.