Jan
14
2005

seen: awkward

I saw this today in Amy Joyce’s weekly “Life at Work” chat at washingtonpost.com:

Miami, Fla.: Do you think it’s unethical and/or tacky for a top executive to bring their daughter to make the rounds and sell Girl Scout cookies? And accompany their daughter as the five-year-old makes the plea to support her troop?

Interested in your thoughts.

Amy Joyce: That’s rotten. Bring in the cookie sheet if necessary. Let people know it’s there if they want to get any cookies. But to bring a kid in and make the rounds to your own employees is just bad. Of course your employees will feel forced to buy cookies if CEO and daughter are making a personal plea. Sigh.

And later on in the same chat…

RE: Girl Scout mom: Uh oh - I did this - walked around with my daughter (I am not the CEO, but “up there”) and I thought it was just a personal touch (my daughter being cute, that is). I was just escorting her because, well, she’s 7. Sorry to everyone I offended - no pressure was intended!

Amy Joyce: Oops. Don’t feel too bad. Kids are cute, and that is a nice touch. But selling cookies, particularly to those in “lower ranks” can be a touchy thing. I get e-mails from people every year at this time, feeling like they were pressured into buying GS cookies (or at other times of the year, wrapping paper, etc.) from higher ups. The thing is, lots of people NEED their annual GS cookies. I just think it’s easier to let them know you have a supplier if they are interested in stocking up. If you go cube to cube, they might feel pressured.

It’s a teeny, tiny world … even when you’re (supposedly) in Miami participating in an online chat hosted by a Washington, D.C. Web site.

That said, does anyone know someone in the D.C. area taking orders for Girl Scout cookies? I’m jonesing for some Samoas and Thin Mints.

Posted at 10:11 AM in seen and heard

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