Financial transactions on the job

We all know better than to lend money to friends. What about co-workers? What if it's not a loan? When walking for charity, I enjoyed getting my walking team together and doing the actual walking. I didn't enjoy the financial side. That entails either aggressively shoving my sign - up sheet into the hands of everyone I work with; or passively posting the sign - up sheet at my work space and hoping for the best.

The worse part of the donation process is actually collecting the donation. On the first year of my charity walk, I discovered the handful of people who enjoyed seeing their names on the list of generous donors. They just didn't like living up to that moniker.

The following year, I targeted my promotion. I brought out the sign - up sheet to the people who supported my efforts the prior year. That is, people who actually paid me. One of the deadbeats asked me repeatedly for the form.

Her: "Oh, I see that Ann is drumming up doners for the walk. Give me your form to sign. I'd rather support you."

Me: "I don't have the form here. Thanks, but if you want to sign up with Ann, I'm cool with that."

Her: "No really. Haven't you started your sheet yet? You'd better get moving."

This stalling lasted a while. Then she saw someone else signing my sheet and moved in on the action.

Her: "Great, I see that you finally got your form. What took you so long? Let me sign it."

Me: "Do you remember when I walked last year?"

Her: "Of course. Come on, give me the form."

Me: "Do you remember if you paid me last year?"

Her: "Um."

Me: "I had a number of people who didn't pay me. I was committed to giving the full amount. Do you know who had to pay your amount to cover commitment?"

Her: "You only asked me twice."

Me: "Really? That's your response."

Sadly, this person went on to get breast cancer. She was fighting it for a second time. She knew that the cancer was winning. It was time to clean out her desk and train a replacement. It was at this point that a co-worker was losing her job. The co-worker asked for a loan. A large loan. She gave it.

Before checking into a hospice, she told me about the situation and the fact that she gave the money believing that it would be paid back. She didn't have the energy or time to get an attorney to fight for the money for her estate.

Karma can be a bitch.