Envelopes for raising Money for co-workers at work?

I am actually asking this for a friend of mine. She works in an office where it seems like everyday she is finding an envelope with a card and asking for money for someone else in her office. (From they are sick to we want to buy them flowers to what are we ordering for lunch today.) Right now she is tight on money. Is it ok for her to just sign the card and pass the envelope on to the next person without adding anything to it?

Envelopes for raising Money for co-workers at work?
If your friend does not contribute money then she must not sign the card. It is perfectly reasonable not to contribute to the never-ending requests for money from co-workers, whether you have extra money or not.
Reply:yes. these are meant to help people. but you cannot be charitable when you yourself are possibly in need of charity.



my suggestion. if you have an extra dollar drop it in the envelope. if not do not worry about it.



where i work we usually do a pocket change collection when someone is sick or gets hurt.



we send one guy around with a coffee can and people just give pocket change. some folks give some spare bills and one time the president of the company wrote out a check for a couple of thousand dollars adn put it in the pot.



with 300 people dropping pocket change we will usually raise 250 to 400 dollars to help somebody out.



and it is nice to know that if something happens to you that somebody will take the time to do something to help.
Reply:I have done research on this subject before, and generally it's not OK to just sign the card, if you do not help out for the gift. Unless your friend has asked to sign the card and to fore go giving money. When one signs the card they have implied they helped purchase the gift. Unless they are just passing the card to be signed and not asking for money then its generally OK to sign the card.
Reply:I agree that she shouldn't sign the card unless she donates to the collection. However, I believe it's still appropriate for her to send her own card if she wishes so that the person may know she's thinking of them.



Of course, with the price of cards these days it might be cheaper and more convenient to put money in and sign the card. If she doesn't know the person then she doesn't have to do either.
Reply:I would suggest she not sign the card if she is not donating any money. If anyone questions her reasons she could just say despite her concern for the person it's not a good time for her to make any form of contributions. If she chooses not to say anything about it it's her choice as well. It would not be good etiquette for someone to ask for her reasons anyway.
Reply:If she doesn't know the person, your friend is not obligated to sign the card or to put money in. Are the same people going to pass around a card on her behalf if she can't make her rent? Sign the cards of close co-workers but there is no law stating that you have to suffer by putting in money too. It's the thought of the card that ultimately counts.