'I don't get paid enough to be a team player': Entitled supervisor criticizes employee for not being able to contribute financially to office parties

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Feb 10, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Many offices like to celebrate their employees, whether it be a birthday, a work anniversary, or even a major accomplishment in their role. But should the office be the one covering the costs of these celebrations, or is it the responsibility of the coworkers? In this particular office, the OP's coworkers are having frequent celebrations, but it's starting to become a financial burden on her. No one in the office seems to empathize with her financial situation as they have significantly larger salaries than her, plus they don't have children to support. The OP expressed that she's struggling to provide for her family and needs all the extra money she can get.

When she tried to express her concerns to her supervisor, he didn't take it very well. Like the OP's other coworkers, he didn't empathize with her situation and instead said she wasn't being a team player. Let's just say the internet had a mouthful of things to say about this. 

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  • 01
    Posted by u/kwabmeat 7 hours ago 2 I got chastised by my supervisor for not contributing to two coworker's birthday gifts/celebrations.
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 02
    I work in a small office, there's just 4 of us. Me, my two coworkers (who are in their 50s and 60s) and my supervisor who is a child-free woman in her 40s. I am the
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 03
    only person, at 24 who has a kid and makes the least amount of money. This job was supposed to be my foot in the door and help me get "ahead" so to speak.
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 04
    I graduated with my associate's degree last May and I've been with this job for a year next month. It seems like every month there is some sort of celebration that everyone must contribute to
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 05
    and I told my supervisor that I just can't do it anymore. I can't contribute money to a forty dollar publix cake when I am putting my last ten bucks in gas to get me back and forth to work this week before payday. I make a little
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 06
    less than $2200 a month and on the rare months when my child's fathers' checks are garnish and I see that measly $120 a month I'm supposed to get, it makes such a huge difference
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 07
    Yesterday it was my coworker who is in her 60s birthday celebration because she will be out of the office on her actual birthday. I didn't participate in the celebration, didn't get any cake, but I did
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 08
    sign their card. Today, it is my coworker in his 50s birthday and we had his celebration too. I will not be participating and instead I'll keep the office open and continue to work.
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 09
    My supervisor told me I am not being a team player and I looked her dead in the face and said I don't get paid enough to really be a team player. Her response was I should be "thankful" that I
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 10
    make what I do an hour and it "could be worse". My supervisor drives a brand new car and is taking a 2 week vacation to Hawaii for her birthday. My request to
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 11
    take my own birthday off was denied because that will be when my supervisor is taking her vacation. My two other coworkers have adult children and make at least 60, possibly 70k a year. My
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 12
    coworker in his 50s constantly spouts about how I make "good money" and I "don't know how good I have it" and how I shouldn't expect to make more than what I do now right out of college and
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 13
    he has even cracked jokes about how I shop at Aldi for groceries and has even asked why don't I drive a newer car. Never mind the fact he also receives veterans compensation as well.
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 14
    I come in early, I've stayed late when asked, I never take time off (because it's been consistently denied by my supervisor for her vacations/other coworkers time off) I have gone above and beyond for our office and
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 15
    the community we serve but after my boss pretty much making me feel like the s on the bottom of her shoe for not being able to contribute not one, but two coworkers cakes/celebrations/gifts, I am just over it. I feel the burnout
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 16
    hard and dream of the day where I can make it from paycheck to paycheck without worrying about how I'm going to pay for gas, make sure my kid has
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 17
    enough to eat and make sure our bills are paid. This is such b t in the year 2024 that I am getting such flack from my place of employment.
    via u/kwabmeat
  • 18
    f CatchMeIfYou Can09. 21 hr. ago "My finances are not up for discussion and I will not be contributing my personal money to any work related functions or celebrations. "I
    via u/CatchMeIfYouCan09
  • 19
    TKG Actual 20 hr. ago OP, first and foremost you need to find another job. Based on what you've written these are the sort of people who are set in their ways, have their little work- social clique and will likely now ostracize you in increasing levels because you are not 'one of them'. On your new job forms I would not suggest checking the box where you are asked if a new employer can contact that old employer because I'd put money on them trying some sort of sabotage.
    via u/TKG_Actual
  • 20
    Mrchameleon_dec 21 hr. ago Sounds like you need to go at the first opportunity that you get
    via u/Mrchameleon_dec
  • 21
    county259 20 hr. ago You could suggest contributions be made based on income. That would get their attention. And save you quite a bit of money,
    via u/county259
  • 22
    ER LITE
    via RDNE Stock project

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Tags

salary boss employee coworkers toxic-boss Office financial burden supervisor entitled team player toxic-work-environment
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