Company asks employee to donate part of each paycheck to nonprofit that funds the company, claims $100 is far too low: 'I will not be coerced into donating to a massive organization'

As a famous blues standard goes, "Saint Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store." This was of course in reference to the scammy turn-of-the-century American practice of large companies cornering their employees to buy their necessary goods from their "company store," where an endless cycle of debt and credit would keep workers working for basically no money. It was an outrageous practice that the American workforce have tried hard to get away from. Or so we thought.

There are plenty of ways that the contemporary workplace steals from their workers, in so many words. For example, being forced to work late nights just because everyone else is, and you risk getting fired if you refuse. Or your workplace forcing you to buy your work uniform from them, and then holding you responsible for any damages to it. Or, as we learned in this story, suggesting, but really forcing you to donate part of your wages to an organization that funds you.

In the workplace, it is important to set boundaries, but it's often one of the hardest things we're asked to do. There is social pressure to fit in with your coworkers, and financial pressure to do whatever you can not to get fired. That's why this worker felt so cornered when they were asked to give up part of their wages.
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Even when they thought they had given enough to appease their supervisor, they were in for a surprise phonecall.

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They were left wondering if they had been taken advantage of or if this was a normal workplace practice. Commenters weighed in.

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$• Jscotty111 4d ago. In the bar/restaurant industry we used to say that it's not wise to spend money in the same venue by which you're working. Because if you're paying the retail price for food and drinks, the company is really paying you a fraction of your wages by making you both the employee and customer.$

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