Birthdays, Retirement, Engagement and New Babies

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My office was recently brought to a halt because someone was retiring. Everyone in my large open plan office gathered at her desk. There was champagne, balloons, presents, speeches etc. Most of the people gathered there did not know the person retiring as they had never worked with her or even spoken to her. Do you think that people should contribute to collections for people who are leaving regardless of whether they know them, or (indeed) like them? Should the amount people contribute to a collection vary in accordance with such things or should people be indisriminate? Is it hypocritical to participate in a celebration for someone you have nothing to do with, or bad manners not to?

― MarkH, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There is one rule about gift giving which is pretty universal - give what you would want to receive. For collections for colleagues pick a base minimum and if they are good mates up it a bit.

There is another rule which states that you should never miss a free party.

― Pete, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There is one rule about work that is pretty universal - never be friendly with anyone. Your colleagues are there to be ignored, ridiculed and condescended to, and abused if you can get away with it. Stay above the pathetic drones circumstances force you into.

― dave q, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

force you INTO? What are you admitting to here, mr Q?

― mark s, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's so many people leaving around here that it's getting ridiculous, so now I only give money if they're a mate or somone I genuinely like. It's the eyes on the people doing the collection (and it's always the same people isn't it? In our case the building's mother hen and her sidekick) when you say, no, I don't want to put any money in, they burn right through you as if you've committed the ultimate sin.

sod 'em, if I didn't like/know you outside work you wouldn't get anything off me so why should you now?

― cabbage, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ummm, that I'm not independently wealthy?

― dave q, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, now I see what you mean...missing words! Sorry! I would clarify the last sentence but forget it, just pretend it isn't there.

― dave q, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

In our office I am always the mug who ends up organising these things which is a total nightmare, my boss says 'Oh Emma x is leaving, do the card and present would you?' and that's that. I find myself wandering round Clinton Cards trying to find a card for a 50 year old man that doesn't have teddies on it. General rule in the department is a fiver each but we do all know each other. Whether we like each other is another matter.

― Emma, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No i like it how it wuz: reads like something you'd read in a date-rapist's secret diary.

HOW I STAYED ABOVE THE PATHETIC DRONE I WAS FORCED "INTO"...

At once pitiless and pathetic, bold and evasive.

― mark s, Thursday, 26 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I always give to the collections, and we usually give a decent amount, $10 or $20 depending on how well we know the person. What helps is that we are not a large office because my department is in a separate building from the rest of corporate, so it's just 30 people. And anyhow most of the gifts aren't done thru collections, we just break out the corporate cards and petty cash.