‘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
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