ANNOYING office situation -> need quick advice if possible

[Buena Girl]

This is really not that big of a deal but it''s really bugging me: Twice in the last week I''ve had to chip in for things for co-workers and the same person collected money from everyone both times. The thing that is bugging me is that both times the money was an odd amount (i.e. $9.2 and he never gave me my change. In order to pay him faster because he was going to each desk hitting people up for the money, I gave him whole dollar amounts (i.e. a $10 bill).

I really do not care for this person because he has always been a bit of an a-hole. Even worse, he started dating the president of the company''s daughter this year, and he has morphed into an extra-obnoxious a-hole. The amount of money he owes me is nominal (@ $1), but it still bugs me. I can understand that he didn''t have exact change for me at the time, but he has had plenty of time to pay me back. And he''s not a forgetful person, so I know that he knows I haven''t gotten my change yet. I''m not sure how many other people he did this to, but if he stiffed enough people a little bit of change each, that would add up to him not having to chip in any money.

I would like to ask him for my money today. The problem is, when I practiced my ideas on my b/f last night he said I was too confrontational. I thought of some new ways this morning and tried them out on b/f. Again, he said too confrontational.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me as to how to go about it?? Or, if you think I am being a baby about this and think I should let it go, please express your opinion! I welcome all ideas on my situation.

Thanks in advance!

 

[windowshopper]

i wouldnt say anything--next time say i dont have any cash right now i will have to get it to you later and get the exact amount and give it to him

 

[bstraszheim]

I think you may be best off by letting what has happened slide, then next time, right after he comes back from the errand, ask him for your change. Or next time you could make him wait while you dig around in your purse for the exact amount and think of it as getting the time that you paid him for with your prior lost change! : ) I hope that helps.

I wish you well,

Bridget

 

[pearcrazy]

I''d poke my head in his office and say, "hey, (name) I really need my change, I want a Coke from the vending machine and all I have is a $20." If he still doesn''t give it to you then write it off until the next time he collects and then short him a buck and tell him you''re even.

 

[Libster]

Just write the amount he owes you on a post-it note and put it on his desk. He''ll see it, remember and get the money to you. I''ll bet within the hour of leaving the note you will have your change. Just jot down "reminder, you owe me $xxx from the office donations...thanks" Good luck!

 

[TedK]

Wait until the next time you are asked for $$$ (be sure to leave $$$ in your desk so you have the exact amount in the future), and simply give the amount to him MINUS what he owes you.

 

[Buena Girl]

Thanks for the quick repsonses!

Ideally, I should just forget about the $$ and let the situation go. It''s just that this guy is such a creep! He''s done other things in the past (like spread false rumors about people) that I''m tired of him treating people so poorly. I hate feeling played.

I would love to do Pearcrazy''s suggestion, but it would be too confrontational. This guy could be my boss someday. He has already bought an e-ring for the president''s daughter

, but hasn''t proposed yet.

B/f works at the same office as us and knows the jerky guy. He thinks that even Libster''s post-it note idea may be a little confrontational.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to be very non-confrontational while still making it clear that not paying peolpe what you owe them is not nice?

Thanks!!!

 

[fire&ice]

Sound like he's got himself a nice cottage industry.

While I can certainly relate to your feeling used (regardless of monetary amount), I think I would let it go & just have exact change next time.

There is always one in the crowd. I'm sure your not the only one to feel the way you feel about the guy.

 

[belle]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:24:26 AM
Author: fire&ice
Sound like he''s got himself a nice cottage industry.

While I can certainly relate to your feeling used (regardless of monetary amount), I think I would let it go & just have exact change next time.

There is always one in the crowd. I''m sure your not the only one to feel the way you feel about the guy.

yep...what f&i said....exactly

 

[Cath]

I agree with what many have said -- let it go this time and only give him have exact change in the future.

If you don''t let it go, he will go around saying to people "can you believe how petty she is?" It''s not worth it for $1.

 

[Buena Girl]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:10:14 AM
Author: TedK
Wait until the next time you are asked for $$$ (be sure to leave $$$ in your desk so you have the exact amount in the future), and simply give the amount to him MINUS what he owes you.

Another good suggestion, but it was just an odd coincidence that two people left the company within a week of each other. So, I have no idea when the guy would be collecting money again. It could be months from now and I would have to keep track until then.

And it is hard to have the exact amount of $$ because it is usually food that is bought for the people and we don''t know how much we owe until after it is bought and he always wants the $$ immediately.

Sorry that this is such a picky situation

I really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to try to help me out!!!

 

[Buena Girl]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:38

6 AM
Author: Cath
I agree with what many have said -- let it go this time and only give him have exact change in the future.

If you don''t let it go, he will go around saying to people ''can you believe how petty she is?'' It''s not worth it for $1.

Yes, that is EXACTLY what he would probably say!! He is that type of person.

 

[luvmysparklies]

Yeah, I agree, let the dollar go. I hate people trying to get over. My sis loaned my Aunt 600 bucks a couple of years ago and hasn''t been paid back yet. Now the same Aunt wants to "borrow" again, like 50 dollars with the promise that payday, she''ll pay it back. With no mention of course of the 600. I told my sis, don''t loan her anymore money unless you''re prepared for it to morph into a "gift." Look at it this way, it cost you 600 bucks to learn that she is not dependable...I would say the same to you. It cost you a dollar to learn that for this jerk, you need exact change. With the potential power that he holds, its just not worth it for a dollar.

On the other hand, you could always go in his office and say, "Hey MF, you owe me some change, you stupid A-hole! If I don''t get it, expect a beat down after work!!!" and then after his reaction, say, "awww April fool''s!" Just kidding!
Luv

 

[Buena Girl]

Looks like if I had taken a poll, then the majority would be for "let it go".

Thanks for all of your opinions! I think I will have to just bite my lip on this one and not say anything. Especially for a dollar. At the very least, I hope that some of his bad karma comes back on him very soon !!!

 

[Rebemdee]

If you want to chip in but this guy is the collector, you could say, "Oh goodness, I would LOVE to chip in but I didn''t bring cash today, let me write you a check!" Make it for the exact amount.

 

[strmrdr]

Sorry im broke and ignore em.
Thats what I do.
I dont play that game at all.

 

[fountainfairfax]

Hey Buena-

1st- I''d just ask for my change, today, and don''t walk away until he coughs it up & I''d make sure I had the .28 with me, so you can tell him you can make change for a dollar!
2nd- I''d find someone else to start doing the purchasing & collecting from now on- offices get into anarchy when no one is accountable....

I''m the person in my office who gets to handle the same kind of purchases- gifts, cards, balloons- all the fun stuff that I can''t expense out (my comp. will pay for any food.) I have also raised money for memorial benches, contributions to childrens'' education funds, funeral flower arrangements, ect. The key is that even for the smallest purchases there has to be major accountability for every cent. I round #s up to the nearest .50, carry plenty of quarters and then keep any overage of funds to put towards the next purchase. I also put a posting on the bulletin board outside my office to let everyone know how much money is in the "slush fund". If we go awhile w/o needing to make a purchase or contribution I take a majority vote and will buy doughnuts or pizza for the staff. i keep all this stuff in a notebook w/receipts- if anyone ever wants to see it, its all there and we use the notebook to go back and look at how much $$ we need to raise....

I think our employees appreciate that I''m careful w/their money and that every penny is tracked...as a result I have very few problems getting people to chip in.

 

[FireGoddess]

It''s been said, but the way I would go about it in this particular situation (and I do mean THIS particular one, since I am usually direct and confront things head on....which wouldn''t work that well here)...next time I would short him a dollar and tell him "Sorry, that''s all I''ve got on me, but since I''ve overpaid in the past, it shouldn''t be a problem this time, should it." And leave it at that.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:24:26 AM
Author: fire&ice
Sound like he''s got himself a nice cottage industry.

While I can certainly relate to your feeling used (regardless of monetary amount), I think I would let it go & just have exact change next time.

There is always one in the crowd. I''m sure your not the only one to feel the way you feel about the guy.

Absolutely - ditto - to the letter.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:24:26 AM
Author: fire&ice
Sound like he''s got himself a nice cottage industry.

While I can certainly relate to your feeling used (regardless of monetary amount), I think I would let it go & just have exact change next time.

There is always one in the crowd. I''m sure your not the only one to feel the way you feel about the guy.

HI:

Astute observation. Anyway BG, any relationship can change; I say keep cool and professional on all levels.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Kaili]

From now on, round down instead of up... what a slimebag!

 

[windy1365]

Buena Girl - I think the best thing to do is to short him the amount that he owes you the next time he is doing to collecting, and let him know why. Who knows... someone else might have only given him $9 b/c they didn''t have $10, so he maybe didn''t end up with the extra money for himself anyway.

People are always collecting money for stuff in my office. If it''s someone''s birthday, certain people will bring something... others will donate money. It does not come out even. There is a food day this coming up Monday. One lady said that she will bring rolls. I know for a fact that she went down to the cafeteria and donated maybe $2 for the extra rolls that were left over from the food money raiser that day. Then, another person might spend $5 for some baked beans. Okay...so, I would rather donate some money. But, they are ordering BBQ, which comes out to $80. Split that amoung the remaining people not bringing something, and I''m supposed to give $10. That''s not fair at all!!

So, Buena Girl, you are not the only one that gets screwed over with this kind of thing. And, if you don''t participate, you look like the bad guy!!

 

[Buena Girl]

Just wanted to post this link in case any one reads this thread and didn''t see what else happened that day.

Ahhh, some situations turn out better than expected

 

[Sparkster]

Ooooohhhhh I hate this sort of thing. I have a similar situation where I work. Whenever it''s someone''s birthday in our department or special occasion, I collect money to have morning tea and I make a list of those who have contributed. I would then send an email to the entire department stating ''morning tea will be on in 5 minutes''. There are always people who turn up and eat even though they have not contributed.

So I started emailing only those people who contributed but sure enough, people who still haven''t paid turn up and eat. I even went up to one the offenders while she was eating and hinted that this wasn''t a free feed by saying things like ''I''m the money collection queen'' and ''people shy away from me when they see me with the collection envelope because it''s pay up time.'' She didn''t even blink an eyelid and kept on scoffing the food down! I even had one guy who never contributes but just happend to be in the staff kitchen as we tucked into hot cross buns for easter. He sat down, read a paper and then as he walked out, grabbed some buns on the way out!!!

Next time I will approach these people as they are eating and say very loudly so that everyone can hear ''I haven''t received any money from you. Can you please pay me later on''. We only pay a few dollars each so it''s not the cost that makes me angry - it''s the principle of the thing.

 

[windy1365]

They had food day in my office area today. The two girls that sit next to me organized it. They told people that they could either bring in something or donate some money. A lot of people brought in things... some nicer than others... and the people that didn''t bring anything in donated $5 to $10. I gave $7, which I thought was fair.

Anyway... they only ended up collecting $60 to purchase the meat. They went and bought $120 worth of meat!!! Only half of it was eaten. These two girls had to pay $30 each out of their own money. I feel awful for them, but if it had of been me, if I had collected $60 from people, then that is how much meat that I would have bought.

The worse thing was that these girls put the meat in the fridge to take home to feed their families for tonight. When they went to collect it, a woman that had only brought in two packs of hamburger buns had gotten in it... her and her friend. This same woman had earlier came by to collect her left over hamburger buns, making sure that no one took them home. I would have went off on her if it had been me!!

 

[Buena Girl]

windy-
That''s awful! I hate when things are not fair. But I guess like many people said, there are people like that at every office.

There is so much peer pressure to participate in these things. At least 50% of the time I don''t even want to be involved, but it''s so important "to be a team player" that I feel like it could affect my job if I don''t chip in money and do whatever group food thing is planned.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

"I'm going to have your legs broken if you don't give me that change" (said with no smile on your face and a long, direct stare).

 

[MissAva]

Seriously how weird is this guy stiffing people on change couldn’t be adding up to that much and it clearly is not making him friends around the office. I used to wonder why my daddy treats everyone to lunch once a week or so...I thought he was being silly and ruining people’s diets/healthy eating habits. But at least if the boss is doing it then there is no one to collect money and start issues that way, the office is small about 400 people and everyone seems to enjoy the pizza, subs, Chinese that they end up with. I think I would avoid saying anything because my understanding of office life is that gossip can be brutal and truly detrimental to peoples careers and lifestyles. Still a voodoo dol and some well placed pins might be in order.

 

[Buena Girl]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:18:54 AM
Author: Buena Girl
Thanks for the quick repsonses!

Ideally, I should just forget about the $$ and let the situation go. It''s just that this guy is such a creep! He''s done other things in the past (like spread false rumors about people) that I''m tired of him treating people so poorly. I hate feeling played.

I would love to do Pearcrazy''s suggestion, but it would be too confrontational. This guy could be my boss someday. He has already bought an e-ring for the president''s daughter

, but hasn''t proposed yet.

B/f works at the same office as us and knows the jerky guy. He thinks that even Libster''s post-it note idea may be a little confrontational.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to be very non-confrontational while still making it clear that not paying peolpe what you owe them is not nice?

Thanks!!!

hi,
In case anyone remembers this situation (the one I quoted here), I have a funny little update for it. That guy proposed to the boss''s daughter this past weekend after only dating her for 10 months!

And how do I know this you may ask? Because she came in to the office this morning and he walked her around to everyone''s work areas to "share the good news" and show off her ring!

It was hard to keep a straight face!!

 

[MINE!!]

Date: 4/1/2005 10:18:54 AM
Author: Buena Girl
Thanks for the quick repsonses!

Ideally, I should just forget about the $$ and let the situation go. It''s just that this guy is such a creep! He''s done other things in the past (like spread false rumors about people) that I''m tired of him treating people so poorly. I hate feeling played.

I would love to do Pearcrazy''s suggestion, but it would be too confrontational. This guy could be my boss someday. He has already bought an e-ring for the president''s daughter

, but hasn''t proposed yet.

B/f works at the same office as us and knows the jerky guy. He thinks that even Libster''s post-it note idea may be a little confrontational.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to be very non-confrontational while still making it clear that not paying peolpe what you owe them is not nice?

Thanks!!!

Hmmm.. I would probaly screw it all up... I WOULD be too confrontational... My shortcoming I admit... Good luck though!!!