Nurses selling at work?

[Emergent]

What do you think of nursing soliciting at work for things like Mary Kay, and other businesses like that? Is it appropriate to do so during work time?

We have a per diem nurse in our department. Her main gig is Mary Kay and she supplements her income with nursing. She has recruited people at work, and is constantly promoting May Kay while working, hopefully not with patients, but most certainly at the nurses station.

Some people are annoyed by it, others like it and have signed on. What do you think?

[RunBabyRN]

I draw the line at a sign up sheet (Girl Scout Cookies, gift wrap, etc.), box of candy or Avon catalog on the break room table. Anything above that that's unsolicited is a no-no. It's also important that the "seller" be gracious if someone says no.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Then say "No, thank you" and go about your business. Both my kids have had several fund raisers for school and I'll leave the stuff on the table in the break room with a note explaining what/whom it's for. If you want to buy a $1 candy bar, thank you. If you don't want to buy a $1 candy bar, then don't. The cheap crap that's sold in the catalog every year for Christmas--that's optional too. Schools are so under-funded, especially in my area, that they need all the help they can get. There's two of us at work with kids so we don't push our stuff on the others, we just let people know what we're selling if anyone is interested. Our kids don't even have books in their classrooms, they glue pages into a spiral notebook as their textbook. As far as Mary Kay and Avon, I'll buy a $8 tube of lipstick if I need one, but I'll laugh if you try to recruit me to sell it also.

I am never rude. Why would I be?

However, we have 100 plus employees with roughly 50% with school age kids.

That opens up a potential floodgate. Buy from one and not the other? Supervisor selling items? Supervisor purchasing from one and not the other?

I personally don't like being put on the spot on in this manner in the work place whether it is for schools or anyone's side business. Even laying about the breakroom or not.

That's my opinion and choice.

If other's are okay with it, no skin off my back.

However, most places don't allow it.

I feel for school districts and budgets.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I think it should be permitted if it's left in the break room,NOT on the floor.

[sweetdreame, BSN, RN]

I really don't think its a big deal. I have never sold anything at work, but am more than happy to help out by supporting my coworkers kiddos in girl scouts and school fund raisers. I had a colleague who sold Mary Kay and it was actually pretty convenient for me because I could easily order, pay, and pick up the product. I'm an adult and know how to say "no thank you" if I don't want something. But, I do think it should stay in the break room.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Lay the sheet for GS cookies on the table thats fine. But approach me and try to sell me something and we will have issues. I despise all forms of advertising. If I want to buy something, I will do so on my own accord.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I would not do it, I hate asking for money or for people to buy stuff. We have a person who sells stuff, but is very discreet and leaves a catalog on the table and we approach her. I don't know if we have a policy or not, but not too many people solicit.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The break room is the perfect place, then one can choose to look, buy, whatever. But not out in the unit. And leave a few business cards, and if someone wants to sell makeup galore, more power to them. Otherwise, I am no interested in assisting you in driving a pink caddy to work.

BUT, I will on my own accord, sign up for the various store card "reward" programs that help schools, (my own kids and some nieces and nephews) Save box tops, whatever. There's also a lot of school websites that have adopt a classroom things where you can donate for specific needs----again,we are most all mindful that schools are underfunded--but there are many, many other ways to help and some just by clicking a few buttons from your supermarket or department store savings card. When I am trying to get patients taken care of is not the time.

[macenroe]

I am against soliciting of any kind at work. Thankfully, I work at a place that doesn't allow it. However, I have worked at other places that did allow it, and it got tiring. It seemed as if somebody was approaching me two to three times a week wanting a donation for something. I would even have them say; "Most people are giving at least five bucks". It's hard to say "no", but I did have to do it from time to time. Otherwise, I would have needed financial help myself. I have never, in any of the places I have ever worked, solicited from a coworker for anything.

When I was a kid in school, I was involved in many fundraisers. And guess what? I actually had to do the selling myself. If it meant going door to door after school, then that's what I did. The point is, my parents didn't take the merchandise to their jobs and sell it for me. That was my responsibility. So for me, I am against soliciting of any kind. It doesn't matter if its for school, someone selling Avon, or donations for a coworker. There is never an appropriate time to ask for solicitations at work.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

As long as people aren't being pestered, they're free to say "no", and it's limited to the break room, I don't have a problem with discreet sales at work. Catalogs, business cards, and sales brochures in the break room aren't that different from flyers for cars, yard sales, or show shoveling. I usually don't buy anything, though I've bought Avon in the past. There have been years when I wanted to buy Girl Scout cookies, but didn't know any Girl Scouts.

That said, I was at an MD appointment this past winter when I saw a fund-raising poster in the exam room. Apparently, they were raising money for an employee who had chronic pain and high medical expenses. I took it down, threw it away, and told the MD; it's totally inappropriate in a patient care area.

I went to Catholic school, and I was a Girl Scout, so I did a lot of fund-raising as a kid, and I hated it. The schools in my area stopped encouraging door-to-door sales after a kid in New Jersey was murdered while selling wrapping paper door-to-door. I'd rather have the kids wash cars or do yardwork, since they get to keep most of that money. When kids sell wrapping paper and cookie dough, only about 25% of the money actually goes to the school.

[T-Bird78]

I am against soliciting of any kind at work. Thankfully, I work at a place that doesn't allow it. However, I have worked at other places that did allow it, and it got tiring. It seemed as if somebody was approaching me two to three times a week wanting a donation for something. I would even have them say; "Most people are giving at least five bucks". It's hard to say "no", but I did have to do it from time to time. Otherwise, I would have needed financial help myself. I have never, in any of the places I have ever worked, solicited from a coworker for anything.

When I was a kid in school, I was involved in many fundraisers. And guess what? I actually had to do the selling myself. If it meant going door to door after school, then that's what I did. The point is, my parents didn't take the merchandise to their jobs and sell it for me. That was my responsibility. So for me, I am against soliciting of any kind. It doesn't matter if its for school, someone selling Avon, or donations for a coworker. There is never an appropriate time to ask for solicitations at work.

School fund-raisers tell students to ONLY sell to people they know; family, friends, immediate neighbors they know very well and NOT to go door-to-door.

[exit96]

Wrong. Annoying. It's easy to see how some want to decide what fundraisers may be "appropriate." Should be policy against this stuff.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I think it's inappropriate while on the clock, but okay in the break room.