I realize this sounds so petty. I work for the state government, we have zero budget for office holiday parties.
A coworker sent an email out yesterday soliciting cash donations so she can throw a party for the entire office, which is multiple departments and hundreds of people. My department is small, maybe 20-30 people in my office. Her email was off putting and she included her Venmo.
I am throwing two baby showers over the next two months. Two of my direct reports are expecting (no, not together lol). I just took a direct report out for lunch to celebrate their promotion. I’m easily spending $300+ on my direct staff over the few months and have no desire to also subsidize a holiday party for people in departments I don’t even know. I don’t mind spending money on my own team, but I don’t ask other people to pay for a baby shower I want to throw either.
I wouldn’t mind bringing a dish or something, but to ask for cash donations sounds just so tacky. Ugh. Ok, complaint over. I know the easy answer is “just don’t donate” and I won’t, but I’m wondering what other people would do in this situation.