Q: Where I work it seems like every other week I’m approached by someone either asking me to donate to a cause -“I’m doing a charity walkathon”- or trying to sell me raffle tickets, wrapping paper or chocolate bars for a fundraiser. I resent feeling obligated to give just because I work with this person and I’m going to see them every day.
I expect this type of social pressure from friends and neighbors, but I want to be free from it at work. What’s the best way to ask my employer to prohibit this type of thing?
A: When selling and soliciting activity at work only happens occasionally, it typically doesn’t need to be addressed. However, when the activity increases to the point that it’s a nuisance, or becomes a time waster, or employees start to feel pressured, then it’s time for the employer to do something about it.
So yes, having a “no selling/no solicitation/no distribution policy” will take care of this problem. The policy can also include exceptions such as allowing a yearly United Way campaign or the sale of Girl Scout cookies.
Additionally, because most of these policies are worded so they “prohibit selling/soliciting and the distribution of printed material on company property by employees and non employees” the policy also serves to prevent union organizing activity on the premises, which most businesses wish to avoid.
So, how best to suggest this policy to your employer?
You have a couple of choices: 1) You could ask for the policy via the ever-useful anonymous suggestion box or 2) You could suggest it to management directly, but ask that your name be kept in confidence.
Now, I’ll let you in on a secret. There are many employees who -like you- resent coworkers selling and soliciting, but would not speak openly about it for fear of looking like a curmudgeon. I’ve had employees complain privately when the policy was not being observed, so that I could be the bad HR cop and go enforce it.
So, in my opinion, by making this suggestion you are probably doing many others employees a great favor.
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