Coworker Says They Don't Want to Pitch in $50 for Boss's Retirement Gift; Now, 'the Vibe in the Office Is Weird'

An office worker is igniting viral conversation after sharing that they've opted to "sit out" pitching in for a group gift for their retiring boss.

In a post shared on Reddit, the anonymous person writes that a group of their colleagues "decided to pitch in for a group gift for our boss’s upcoming retirement."

"They suggested a fancy watch and set a budget of $50 per person," the post reads. "While I respect our boss and appreciate the idea, I felt $50 was too steep for me right now, especially with the holidays coming up and my own financial priorities. I politely told them I’d sit this one out."

Apparently, however, "that wasn’t an option."

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The colleagues told the poster they needed to contribute "because it 'would look bad' if I didn’t, especially since everyone else in the department agreed to chip in."

"When I still declined, they got irritated and said I was being 'cheap' and 'ungrateful,' considering our boss has been so good to us over the years," they add.

Now, the person writes, "the vibe in the office is weird."

"People are being short with me or making passive-aggressive comments about 'teamwork' and 'support.' It’s making me question if I should’ve just paid the $50 to keep the peace," they add.

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Commenters on Reddit agree with the original poster, though, with one writing, "What looks bad is that your boss’s employer isn’t getting him a nice gift like a gold watch. That’s not your role as his team member and your coworkers are out of line."

Adds another: "You set a clear boundary and you have every right to decide how you spend your money. Participating in a group gift should be optional, not mandatory. Just because everyone else agreed doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do the same, especially if $50 feels like too much for you right now."

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