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'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 6, 2025 1:00 PM EST

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. 

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  •  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. 

  • 01

    Even when they thought they had given enough to appease their supervisor, they were in for a surprise phonecall.

    Cheezburger Image 10451126784
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Boss asked for donation from my paycheck... Then asked for more. Is this a red flag?
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 03
    Hi all - I have never experienced this before and I am wondering how common a practice this is. I work for an agency that is funded mainly with Medicaid dollars. We also obtain some of our funding from a large and well known non- profit. My program director "strongly encouraged" all
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 04
    employees to fill out a donation form for this particular agency to show our good will. You could donate a lump sum or a portion of each paycheck. While this was technically voluntary it did not feel that way. Mind you our agency pays less than the standard wage for similar work which has lead to turnover issues.
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 05
    Normally I would say no to such request as I am not in a financial position to donate anything. However I am new to this job and still feeling out the culture here. In the end I donated a small portion of each paycheck over the course of the next few months totalling $100.
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 06
    Two months later and two days after Christmas I get a call on my office phone from the director asking if I had made a mistake filling out my donation form as what I donated "only added up to $100". Honestly, I was taken aback and bumped up my donation at the director's "non request". Normally I am good with maintaining those boundaries, but not that day.
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 07
    Now that I have had a moment to pause and think this whole thing does not sit well with me. It sat even worse when I looked up what admins make for the non-profit I donated to (upwards of millions a year). What is done is done but is it crazy I want to look for a new job now? I'm not seathing over it or anything. However to me this is a red flag. Maybe I am overthinking. Maybe I'm not cut out for office politics and norms.
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 08

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

    Cheezburger Image 10451133184
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    La_ham_ 4d ago • This is very wrong and sounds scammy
    via u/La_ham_
  • 10
    8ft7 • 4d ago . This is not uncommon over in United Way land but I would reduce my contribution to $0 this year and give frank feedback to the director that you found it nearly an invasion of privacy for him to call out your contribution last
    via u/8ft7
  • 11
    year as being too low and that you make decisions on charitable contributions in consultant with the rest of your family and do so out of a private charitable fund, and respectfully but firmly you will not entertain further discussions about how your own personal money is spent, saved, or given.
    via u/8ft7
  • 12
    livefast_petdogs • 4d ago • I knew immediately that this was a UW ask. If they're funding their programs - yeah participating in their YE pledge drive is smart for the org. A goal for participation % is fine (without consequence or direct pressure).
    via u/livefast_petdogs
  • 13
    Their boss is an a h le. The worst that could happen is that they can't add this tidbit to their next grant application. Like harassing individual employees over that? Gross.
    via u/livefast_petdogs
  • 14
    HexlsNotACrime • 4d ago . This is not a red flag. It is a red potato field cover. If the boss wants to show the company goodwill he can use company money.
    via u/HexlsNotACrime
  • 15
    • 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.
    via u/Jscotty111
  • 16
    That's kind of what's happening here. If you make $10 an hour and they're asking/requiring you to donate $10 every week, you're really making $9.75/hr.
    via u/Jscotty111
  • 17
    And if that doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, the principle of the matter suggests that the charity is financially unhealthy anytime it has to take donations from the people whom they're paying to help collect or manage the donations. Because if they want $10 a week now, who's to say that they won't ask for $20 or more per week?
    via u/Jscotty111
  • 18
    raar . 4d ago • sorry are you saying your company is asking you to donate money to the company?
    via u/raar__
  • 19
    Natti07 4d ago . I'll probably get down voted but I donate $0 when coercion is involved. The school district I used to work for ran a whole united way campaign and tried to pressure everyone and would come and ask you why you didn't donate bc then whole
    via u/Natti07
  • 20
    staff couldn't get a (pizza. party). I donate a lot to causes I care about and volunteer regularly. I will not be coerced into donating to a massive organization through my employer
    via u/Natti07
  • 21
    throwaaytaytatat... . 4d ago Yeah non-profits can be like this. I usually end up donating a one-time $50 each year, just to say "I'm with you"
    via u/throwaaytaytatatat
  • 22
    There are people who make a lot more than me, and also those who make a lot less, still donating. I do it once and have never been questioned, but I would tell them that's all your budget allows for currently with inflation.
    via u/throwaaytaytatatat
  • 23
    Bird_Brain4101112 • 4d ago. This isn't normal office politics. This is scummy extortion on the part of your boss. If your org wants tp look good they can donate money (yes I realize that their funding comes FROM the org). But forcing underpaid employees to donate is garbage.
    via u/Bird_Brain4101112
  • 24
    Diligent_Lab2717 4d ago • "Oh crop. Yes that is wrong. I meant $10 for the year. Thanks for catching that. I will resend the updated form."
    via u/Diligent_Lab2717
  • 25
    Artistic-Animato... 4d ago You need to learn to stand up for yourself, and you should not have to give any explanations on what you do with your hard-earned money: -"only added up to $100"-.
    via u/Artistic-Animator254
  • 26
    -Yes, I decided that. I think that's more than enough-. -But bla bla-. -How much are you making and how much are you giving? Can you show me the numbers in your paycheck because you saw the numbers in my paycheck and decided that this was
    via u/Artistic-Animator254
  • 27
    comparatively very low. I will decide if I increase or decrease the amount based on that. Do you have any more questions?-. This is how you deal with these people.
    via u/Artistic-Animator254
  • 28
    gandolffood · 4d ago . I suspect there's some deal where he gets bonuses based on percentage of the organization that donates and maybe amount donated. His problem, not yours. Cancel if you can. Your "donation" is working for less than standard.
    via u/gandolffood
  • 29
    Edit: I appreciate the advice about what I should have done (actually some good zingers). I understand that. I posted mostly because I have never experienced this and was wondering how common it is (fairly common it appears.) For clarification I am usually known for being diplomatic but forthright about my feelings. I have ample experience saying "no" and am
    via u/Frank_Mudgut
  • 30
    comfortable doing so. However, a stressful work day, a health scare, a new apartment with a furnace that went out that day had me beyond flatfooted. I wasn't even sure what I had heard or agreed to by the time I hung up the phone. I didn't have a chance to think about it until I got home - that's when a cool anger washed over me. Angry at them for being so bold and angry at myself for not having my wits about me at the moment. Anyway's lots of "I would have said x..." Would you have though?
    via u/Frank_Mudgut

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