Hey folks, I manage a store for a UK retail company and I’m trying to figure out if this charity thing going on is legit or not.
They’ve been advertising this ‘Arctic Challenge’ through work apps, Facebook, and email. The idea is that five of the upper management, including the CEO, will go to the Arctic Circle, do some ‘extreme challenges,’ and try to raise £15,000 for the National Literacy Trust.
Here’s the thing—£15,000 seems like it would barely cover the cost of the whole trip for the five of them. When I asked how the event was actually being funded to make sure money was really going to charity, I didn’t get a clear answer. Management just said most of the funds were coming from the charity itself.
I reached out to the company running this challenge, and they said it costs £300 base and £2,000 per person, not including insurance, gear, and travel. So, each person’s looking at around £3,500.
They’re also asking staff to donate, but honestly, I’m not going to. Our hours have been cut, and my team is struggling. I’m trying to run a store on 93 hours a week for 6 people, and I’ve got 40 of those hours myself. It’s hard to keep the place running, and my staff isn’t getting enough hours or pay, let alone proper training.
I just don’t see how this is fair, especially when it feels like they’re funding their fun trip under the name of charity. Last time I checked, skiing, ice fishing, and exploring the Arctic didn’t exactly seem like hard work.
Anyway, I’ve linked the event details and management’s response below. Has anyone else dealt with something like this?
Link to the challenge: The Arctic Challenge: A day in the life | National Literacy Trust