‘I now have no money for the mandatory Christmas dinner that will cost, I don't even know how much’: Manager tells new hire she has to pay for "mandatory motivational activities," draining her account after getting her first paycheck

Office "culture" sounds cute until it starts looking like a subscription service. This place has basically turned December into a pay-to-play festival. Matching pajama day, but you have to buy the pants. Mandatory Christmas dinner, but off the clock and probably not covered. Daily "motivational" events, funded by a cash pot everyone is expected to throw money into like it is a team-building tithe.

The fresh worker is sitting there with one full-time paycheck, about a hundred bucks left after rent and bills, and management is talking like twenty dollars for novelty pajamas is no big deal. Then comes the guilt layer. If you do not contribute, you should not eat at the potluck. If you do not "appreciate" the activities, you can go browse job ads. Nothing says we are a family like threatening to replace you over a casserole you could not afford.

There is nothing wrong with liking goofy holiday stuff. There is a lot wrong with acting like participation is a moral test when people are doing math in their heads every time someone says fun idea. If an office wants mandatory motivation, the office can pay for it.

Author image for Etai Eshet Etai Eshet
Add us on Google
Advertisement

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

management terrible coworkers workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work coworkers colleague managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From FAIL Blog

Guy gets last laugh after being fired as ‘non-essential,’ 6-weeks later that company implodes and he has a new job with a 20% pay raise: 'It's a great feeling.'

Guy gets last laugh after being fired as ‘non-essential,’ 6-weeks later that company implodes and he has a new job with a 20% pay raise: 'It's a great feeling.'

Trending Now

Management tries to deny union-guaranteed bereavement leave, offering one day off to healthcare worker after losing a parent: ‘I asked why I can't take the full 5 days off and she said she "would check the handbook and policy in the morning”’

Management tries to deny union-guaranteed bereavement leave, offering one day off to healthcare worker after losing a parent: ‘I asked why I can't take the full 5 days off and she said she "would check the handbook and policy in the morning”’

01
15+ Receptionists who got even with their entitled customers: 'It felt so good to stand up to him'

15+ Receptionists who got even with their entitled customers: 'It felt so good to stand up to him'

02
‘I pushed back’: Neighbors insist resident pay for half of the cost of their fence, even though it sits on their property line and not the resident's

‘I pushed back’: Neighbors insist resident pay for half of the cost of their fence, even though it sits on their property line and not the resident's

03
Apartment dwellers share the funniest things they’ve accidentally seen through a neighbor’s window: 'My upstairs neighbor was giving a PowerPoint presentation to her cats'

Apartment dwellers share the funniest things they’ve accidentally seen through a neighbor’s window: 'My upstairs neighbor was giving a PowerPoint presentation to her cats'

04
20+ Thanksgiving dinners you'll be thankful you're not eating: 'Cooked a Thanksgiving meal... and no one ate it'

20+ Thanksgiving dinners you'll be thankful you're not eating: 'Cooked a Thanksgiving meal... and no one ate it'

05
Store manager demands employee organize products by specific planogram, leading employee to take all their popular items off the shelves: ‘Stop being a helicopter manager’

Store manager demands employee organize products by specific planogram, leading employee to take all their popular items off the shelves: ‘Stop being a helicopter manager’

06
Advertisement