‘Tis the season for gift giving. For some, it’s the highlight of the holidays. A chance to make manifest the love you feel for those around you. For others, it’s an annual scourge. It can be difficult to find the right gift for everyone and not break the bank while doing so. And the pressure to do a good job, especially if you’re trying to impress in-laws, can be overwhelming. I keep my circle of gift-giving pretty small for this reason. It certainly doesn’t extend to anyone in my work environment. Gifts are for friends and family only. Maybe a few lucky neighbors if I’m feeling especially festive. 

That’s why this recent story from Redditor u/apple_6 was so confounding. It’s not often that companies ask their employees for money. The whole point is that it’s the other way around.