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Monday, November 3, 2008

$4 Staff Love?

When I signed all the paperwork for my current job I was kind of thrown off guard by the last paper in the bunch. It was a permission form for whether or not to have $4 deducted from your paycheck to go towards the staff fund. Hmm...

The form stated the fee was $2 for part time employees or $4 for full time. The money goes towards staff parties, birthday card, condolence cards, flowers for sick staff etc. The money is deducted each cheque (biweekly).

At first when I saw it I was not going to fill it out at all. Then I started to think about it and I started to feel like I should. I mean I'll probably get to know these people pretty well over the next year. I know that if you are a staff member that pays the into the fund you get into all staff events free. Not that I really care that much because I'm not really a staff event kind of person but maybe I'll feel differently later. It kind of stumped me but I decided to be a good sport and sign the form.

So if I work there for a year thats $104 of my hard earned buckaroo's. I want to seem like a team player and so I don't mind the fee but part of me feels like its kind of a waste of money. I don't want to be a person who cancels the deductions either.

What would you have done if you were in my shoes?

11 comments:

Rina said...

Seems like a lot of money every year...if you figure on how many people there are working there...at $104 each (or less for the P/Ters)...I don't know. I'd have signed it just because I wouldn't want to be the oddball.

Sigh. Tough decision.

Louise said...

thats an interesting way of doing it, in one way it could be good, you won't be getting asked to chip in for presents for people all the time, I suppose it's fairer, I probably would have done what you did .

its me, sam said...

Dolly, perhaps they use that fund to pay for flowers for funerals, gifts for babies, sponsor a child @ Christmas and weddings too? Or you could consider it a "charitable donation.

Tammy said...

At my part time job they take $9 off once per month and it is the same for part time as well as full time staff. I think it is a rip off for part time staff and that they should have a lower amount deducted. The only thing I get out of it is dinner at the Xmas party if I go so Xmas dinner costs me $108. I'm not really a company Xmas party type of person but figure I may as well go since I pay $108 for it.

They have staff bbqs during the summer but they are always during the day and the part time staff work evenings and weekends so never get to partake.

If I had the option of not paying into this fund, I wouldn't but I don't have the choice.

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of this before. If I were new to the job I would have probably felt pressured to give.

Dolly Iris said...

sam the ostrich - yes, they do use the fund for that as well.

DINKS said...

HAH! I woulda blurted out laughing like crazy, and then i would have signed away and give my money ;)

i get everything costs stuff, i just find it hilarious that it takes THAT to get the money needed for this fun stuff. times are a changing.

Laura said...

I think its a great idea. Everytime that envelope is passed around at work for a card and a gift I feel so obligated and never know what to put in. I would gladly give $4 a month to never feel like I am not putting in an equal share.

S said...

Definitely cant hurt for you to do something like that, I mean it really adds to being in a proactive work environment more than anything and contibuting to that is a good thing!

Dolly Iris said...

JMoney. The first thing I did was think about how I would HAVE to blog about it. HAHA

hklover86 said...

that seems like a lot, $4 per pay? at my work its $1 per paycheck. I dont rememeber this being a choice, but its possible i signed some sheet for it and didnt really look at it. i think the money mostly goes towards our christms party last yr it was at a nice golf club with buffet dinner and there was presents for everyone, and additional presents that were prizes for games and stuff, it was pretty nice so i guess it was worth it.