Boss slammed for demanding "insane" farewell gift contribution
A boss in London has been slammed after asking his employees to chip in almost $100 each for an expensive farewell gift for a co-worker.
In a TikTok, London-resident Ben Askins read out the anonymous submission from one of the employees who was fed up after his manager “forced” everyone in the team to contribute because it was "compulsory".
“Hey, noticed you hadn’t paid into the leaving present for Josh yet. Can you send me the £50 (AU$95) today? I want to put the purchase in by the end of the day,” the boss said in the text.
Shocked by the "insane" amount of money, the employee replied: “Can I ask why it is so expensive?
“Money is a little tight right now and to be asked to put in so much feels like a lot.”
However, the manager didn't take his employee's financial situation into consideration, and said: “Josh has led the company for three years now and I think it’s nice gesture to show our appreciation.”
The employee hit back: “I appreciate that but he makes so much more money than me and for me to be asked to put in so much feels weird especially as I never really worked with him”.
But, the manager insisted that the employee needed to make a contribution.
“This is compulsory I am afraid, it is not fair for me to ask some people and not others. Besides it isn’t that much all things considered," he said, and the employee conceded.
It is unclear what happened after, but the texts have gone viral with over 2.2 million views thanks to Askins' video.
Askins, who’s a managing director and co-founder of a digital agency, weighed in on the ordeal.
“I don’t like this at all. I don’t mind leaving presents as a concept, right? But companies should pay it,” he said.
“Companies should take responsibility, set a budget and they should pay for themselves. If you want to get something small for your best mate at work, that’s totally different, that’s well within your right.
“But this sort of compulsory, ‘everyone’s got to chip in’, I absolutely hate," he added.
He also said that the manager's actions are "really poor" and asking for that amount "is just ridiculous, it’s an insane amount".
“It might not be much money for him but it is clearly a lot for this person so it’s just not fair what he’s doing,” he concluded.
Images: TikTok