Make a Contribution

Yesterday morning, as I walked across from the station, there were people setting up for Pink Ribbon day - Breast Cancer Research, for those who don't know. Eagerly, I went over and asked if they were open for business. I'm a sucker for charities; in particular, badges and stuffed things. Whoever came up with the concept of buying something useless for an exorbitant price with the profit going to charity must be very proud of themselves. What a contribution they made to society! Not just money, but giving a concept.
As usual, I was the only one in the office wearing the badge, although, to be fair, we had a collection jar for Jeans for Genes day. Invariably, people walk around the streets ignoring charities. I know where they hang out, and can spot them a mile away. Maybe it's because I'm a great fan of public transport. Even during the day, though, no-one asked why I wore the ribbon, or where they could get one. They already knew. Veg, for one, is a dedicated anti-charity person. He won't give to charities because he knows that companies representing the charities take the profits for the first two years, or some such. Do I care if he's right? He also believes that all fruit is snap-frozen for months, and that you shouldn't eat fish because of the way they rape the North Sea. He's a pom.
But back to my point - making a contribution. People wander about the office all day, doing what they are expected to do, without thinking about how they can contribute. They then wonder why the things that they've noticed needing to be done don't get any attention. Change the world - but start with yourself. One of my least favourite phrases is "It's not my job". I specifically do not hire people with that attitude. I'm sure that there are some perfectly clever and conscientious people working for the Public Service, but almost every one of them that I have met below executive level (and some over) have had that same attitude - someone else will take care of it, eventually. I think I'll stay in the private sector.
It concerns me greatly, however, that some people will take that attitude regardless. Those that work an eight-hour day (don't get me started on contractors). Those that take a one-hour lunch-break. Those that arrive no earlier than, say 0900. Yes, I am the one who's out of here before 1700 most days, but I'm the first one in the office - every day. My contribution starts with collecting the milk and newspaper from the foyer. It usually continues with cleaning the kitchen cupboards down, setting up the beverage appliances. Work! Work! Work! A woman's work is never done. I'm sure that's why someone called me Mother. I don't think it's too extreme to do that. I don't drink coffee, so I tend not to check the coffee machine anymore, the way I used to every time I went through the kitchen. I think someone else has learnt how to transpose water from sink to receptacle. When Polo hired the new receptionist, Tutu, he made it her job to start the dishwasher when she left the office, and unpack it in the morning.
That, to me, is giving up. You're admitting that people can't change their habits and clean up after themselves. You're also allowing them to stagnate. They're not growing as people, they're not contributing more to the society taht is the workplace. They're not going to contribute more to their job independently of thinking about their other activities. They're just going to get more qualified for the Public Service, or stop eating fish, or not give to charities.
I refuse to follow. There's my contribution - belligerence in the face of conformity.