How Much Should You Be Asked to Donate for a Colleague’s Gift?

I am a bit appalled.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 23, 2022 Illustration by Tomi Um The Ethicist How Much Should You Be Asked to Donate for a Colleague's Gift? The magazine's Ethicist columnist on when co-workers may feel pressured into making a donation at the office — and more. By Kwame Anthony Appiah I am a doctor. My colleague's spouse was recently diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. I privately communicated my support and offered to help, even though they're very self-sufficient and have lots of resources, both financially and emotionally. A nurse in my department is putting together a gift basket for the wife and also collecting donations for the couple to rent a weekend cabin. The nurse says, "Most people are donating between $50-$100." I can easily afford to give $100, but I know that this couple don't need the money, and I am a bit appalled that nurses, tech and other hospital staff (who aren't as well paid as I am) would be asked to donate money to a couple who are comfortable financially and have no barriers to renting a vacation cabin. Do I participate in a gift that I feel is well intentioned but misguided? Read the Ethicist's response here. Subscribe Today We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THIS WEEK'S MAGAZINE Andrea Frazzetta for The New York Times The Voyages Issue Building the First Long-Distance Hiking Trail in Kurdistan Can it help knit together a nation? By Ben Mauk Illustration by Kyutae Lee THe Voyages Issue When I Went Away From the World The novelist Rachel Cusk's pursuit of finality had taken her further and further away. 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