I work for a medium-ish sized company, about 100 employees and an HR team of 1.5 people (one person is helping the HR director sometimes). Last year was the most profitable year of record in the entire company's history since the business opened back in the 1930s. We did roughly 4x as much business in 2021 as we did in 2020 (COVID restrictions were a factor in that contrast in business, but not to that 4x level) and millions of dollars have been made as a result. While I technically got a raise, it was 6.2% while inflation was crossing the line from 7% to 8% back in April. I say all this for context.
This year we, the employees, were asked to donate repeatedly for different causes from Toys for Tots to a food drive to some sort of marathon for kids with rickets or whatever and now they've added a new thing for Xmas. It's currently a survey that is asking people to commit to a financial contribution.
I may not be making minimum wage but I looked at that email and survey with the same problem I have with being asked to donate when I buy a hamburger from some chain place like McDonald's or Walmart. I live in a shitty 1-bedroom apartment I can barely afford and I'm being asked to ante up? My grocery shopping has gone from maybe $100 for 2 weeks of food to being $180 for the same items (including those that are not the same because shrinkflation). I removed a watermelon and frozen sausages for cost reasons.
I don't know how all this is going to end but I know how it's going and I feel like I'm being financially raped.