Today my manager reached out to the entire team (10 people) asking to contribute money to a gift card for our CEO. The gift card was for one of his “favorite” restaurants which is a steakhouse in the city, which is quite spendy, and which the majority of the staff can not afford to eat at. Either we can send $20 to my manager (he’s the 2nd most senior person at the company) or our name will not be included on the card that goes with the gift. I was honestly shocked that this was asked of us. Last year none of us recieved a Christmas bonus, and we’re given 2 pieces of company merch and an AirTag as a company gift. This gift was not even picked out for us by the CEO. This year I am on the Christmas planning committee and we were asked to pick out our own gifts (so once again not by the CEO). In the last year I have seen or talked to the CEO maybe 3 times and in person maybe 1 time. In the last year we have also been in the midst of a move and been working out of boxes since last October. The office is still in boxes and a mess now that we have FINALLY gotten into the new office because no action has been taken by senior management to get tvs and art to be hung, furniture bought, shelves mounted, literally ANYTHING done. Every week I have mentioned this on my 1on1 with my manager for the last year and no action has been taken. We are understaffed and overworked and honestly underpaid for the area we live. Not a single one of us in the office would be able to afford a 1-bedroom apartment in the city we are in! Giving the money is “optional” but the idea we were even ASKED AT ALL?!?! I’m at complete disbelief and I am sad many of my coworkers feel as though they need to give money to make sure their name is on the card. Just how do they think this is okay in the slightest to ask? Feels dystopian