Accountant asking employees for money for boss gift.

[ohrtonz]

So a few days ago I got a note on my desk saying "I need $7 from each employee by Dec 14 so we can give the boss his gift at Christmas lunch" (its a very small company so that makes lik $40-50 gift). I don't remember if the person signed it but I remember being surprised today finding out who it was. My first reaction is "wtf? company asking me for money? shouldn't everyone been asked as a group first if we wanted to? this is wrong!" I had asked the new guy what he thought of it, to get his reaction. He was just all oblivious about it like "what i guess we're buying a gift or something? i just gave $8. whatever".

I have yet to figure out how I can say no. Otherwise I was hoping by finding out what the gift is I could convince myself to help. (I dont think anyone knows yet) So today the accountant comes into my office very haste. "so you get my note? huh? huh? when you gonna get the money huh?" i dunno i said. i just shut down "trying to get out of it huh? eh? come monday ill be here again asking if you got it ok ok okeeey?". I can't tell if she is being like that on purpose of if she really is rude. Sometimes she will joke by being mean and blunt. I will not allow her to bully me into coughing up money like that. No one else has given money yet, I heard her say out loud "wellllll thaaaanks to [name here] for being the ooonnlly one to give his money"

I don't know how to handle it yet so I just mumble "i dunno". My best idea I can think of so far is to start a conversation by asking what the gift is.

 

[EditorOne]

She's acting very unprofessionally. Don't know if she's in a position of authority over you, but if she is, even if it is a de facto authority rather than you being a direct report, she's over the line. That is, if she's a person in your company whose power and influence is real, she's in a position of authority because she can affect how others see you and treat you.

Making the request is one thing; bullying as a follow-up is another. That's where it really goes over the line and touches a nerve for me. If you have the feeling that paying over the money is necessary for you to stay in good grace as an employee, you've got a legitimate issue. Make it simpler: If she was bullying you into having sex with her as a condition for you staying in good grace as an employee, would there be any doubt whatsoever that she was so far over the line as to be instantly fired? The fact that she's doing all this to kiss up to the boss really makes my skin crawl.

Is your company big enough to have a human resources department? If so, maybe make them earn their money for something other than finding ways to fire the little people without facing legal repercussions. I'd tell her Monday that no, you're not chipping in for something you didn't agree to, and if she makes any trouble for you you'll be in human resources so fast it will make her head spin. And I'd do it with someone you trust as a third party witness. Treat it, in other words, the same way they taught you to deal with bullies in school: Tell them you don't like what they did and you want it to stop. Sometimes that's all it takes.

Some of us don't like being pushed around, do we?

 

[asdfasdfasdfsdf]

well.. you are, in no way shape or form thinking ridiculously.
even if its only 8 bucks.. no one should act like that over it.. i mean.. if she even tries to throw the "its only 8$" just say "then why dont you cover my part?"

while simply telling to her face that you think she is a bitch, and you may get her into trouble for harassing you about it is in no way out of line.. i think it would cause the situation to be much more tense than desireable.

i personally would fork over the money just because im that passive, and feel very uncomfortable with conflict like that..

i doubt the money is really that big of a deal for you, its just the way that she is pushing you that actually makes you angry?
if so -
i think, really, the best thing would be to pay the money and say something very softly (try to not have an attitude) like 'i dont really like how you handled this" (dont use those exact words, they are bad wording, but that kind of idea...)

if the money is really that important to you that you arent willing to pay it..
then you are gonna be in some sort of awkward conflict. :/

if you do end up paying.. and you never see anything with the present.. or if she dares to try to pass it off as a gift from just her.. backhand that bitch.

 

[ktp]

Just tell her that if she had requested donations for a gift then you would have happily donated the money. But since she had expected people to pay up and then harassed you to get the money, you are not going to pay it.

 

[Master of Disgrace]

Humm, seems to me she wants to do something nice for the boss. Fine and dandy I suppose; however, why would she expect others to pay for a gift she is most likely going to get credit and recognition for? I think it is pretty obvious that someone will mention to the boss that "So and so put this together for you".

I personally would just say no to the co-worker. Then again if she truly did irk me enough, one up her and get a "better" gift for the boss, personally. Then again, if I did like the boss, the whole situation would be quite moot.

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

How about this: Buy a $5-10 gift for your boss and also give it to him at the lunch. You get control over the gift, and don't have to deal with the bitchy accountant, and even put her in a little bit of a bind.

However, this puts more of a spotlight on you, which is maybe not a good thing. Maybe just be clear "I didn't want to be in the group present, so I got you this."

Want to hear a great idea? Dashboard bobble Buddha!

it's not too serious, and pretty amusing, so it can't be seen as sucking-up.

 

[bananaphallus]

Just stop going to work until this all blows over, that should work.

 

[nemo]

You might give offence by NOT contributing though... 'Tis a sticky situation.

Reverse Transcriptase, that bobble Buddha is the most awesome thing I have ever seen! Any idea where you would get one from?

 

[ohrtonz]

she asked nicely this time "will you be able to contribute?" i asked what it was and said whatever =]. and did.

 

[nemo]

Yay for problem solved, then. Are you guys on better terms now?

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

she asked nicely this time "will you be able to contribute?" i asked what it was and said whatever =]. and did.

I hate to say it but you probably did the right thing. Life is full of BS sometimes that you have to learn to take with a smile. This is one of the smaller piles of it too. The 'stubborn' in most of us wants to fight every battle but if you don't pick your battles more wisely, you'll find your course through life much more difficult than need be.

Thank God, you didn't go the "buy your own gift" route. You would have come across as a brown-noser to both your co-workers AND your boss. Unless you are oblivious to what others around you think of you, you'd be looking for a new job within a year.

 

[Toad]

Why would you want to buy your boss a gift? He already makes more money than you.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

Why would you want to buy your boss a gift? He already makes more money than you.

No one wants to buy their boss a gift you just....you just....hell, I don't know. You just gotta do such things. You have to suck-up, but it's gotta be a group suck-up. Don't let your sucking-up stand apart from the group sucking-up or it will really suck.....unlike my answer which most certainly does NOT suck

 

[Toad]

If I was a boss, I wouldn't enjoy the special attention.

 

[Mars]

exactly, if i was a boss the best gift would be an employee that thought for himself and didn't annoy me with silly trinkets.....

 

[Claverhouse]

Watch Out For The Unexpected Mushroom ( Sicilian Proverb )

One of my ideal jobs would be that of the original Sicilian Mafioso. You sat quietly sipping coffee or wine outside, in the shade, of some little cafe, and people would bring you their little problems which you would then kindly adjudicate with the wisdom of a lifetime and their awed respect. And one's dear little Lupara if the problem required more than the gentle persuasion of one's suavity.


Gifts were mandatory.




Claverhouse