Worker calls out company for asking for donations to help a struggling coworker: 'A lot of us are already struggling to make ends meet as it is'

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Apr 18, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

All throughout the 2000s and 2010s, we used to eat up "goodwill" stories about people banding together to donate PTO to help a seriously ill team member or crowdfunding to help cover the costs and medical debt of members of the community who were experiencing personal tragedy and medical hardship. While it is great to see people who are able to lend a helping hand—and while these acts of charity are not to be diminished… All this really begs questioning, questioning that is finally being asked more and more frequently in discourse online where these types of stories are no longer viewed purely as "wholesome" or "heartwarming" but rather as a sign of the dystopian, socially divided future we're racing toward.

That question is not "why should we help others?" No, helping others is a vital part of our nature. A thriving community is what we would hope sets us apart from other natural beings. Rather, "Why do these people need our help in the first place?" and "Why is the onus of aide being placed upon us?"

Let's use this instance as an example… Rather than seeking to seemingly do something kind by organizing for the lowest-level (probably underpaid) workers to "pitch in" and raise a sizeable fund to support a fellow struggling underpaid worker who is facing insecurity in their life… Why doesn't the company provide that support itself? Especially when that amount of money is a drop in the bucket to an organization the size of the one the worker—the original poster of this story—reportedly works for.
The worker shared screenshots of the initial request, along with the discussion that took place in the workplace's group messaging platform afterward.
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The original message that was sent to workers by management

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The worker, and original poster of this thread, responds with a pointed question

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Another member of their team weighs in, in support of the original request

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While no support was received from their colleagues, members of this online community were quick to offer their praise...

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