Ever wondered how much to put into the ‘not so secret’ envelope collecting funds for a leaver or a colleague having a baby? New data from Collection Pot, the UK’s largest workplace collecting platform, shows that despite workers facing both a rising cost-of-living crisis and a real terms pay cut due to inflation, the average workplace collection pot has grown to £138.65, with an average contribution of £12.89.

Internal analysis of tens of thousands of Collection Pots reveals which celebratory occasions receive the most generous contributions from colleagues (1. Wedding, 2. Engagement, 3. Moving home), and the largest overall pot sizes (1. Retirement, 2. Wedding, 3. ‘To say thank you’).

With Collection Pot’s own research showing that 65% of people worry about contributing the right amount to collections for colleagues, the new data provides useful guidance on collection ‘etiquette’ and what constitutes a reasonable contribution.

Key highlights include:

The average contribution per Pot has grown 5.8% year-on-year to £12.89, and the average overall Pot size has grown 4.9% to £138.65.

‘Wedding’ Pots receive the highest average contributions of £20.92 per person.

‘Retirement’ Pots achieve the largest overall Pot size with an average of £235.27, versus the smallest, ‘Moving home’, which averages £84.14

‘Retirement’ Pots also receive the highest number of contributions with an average of 18.3, significantly ahead of ‘Leaving’ Pots with the second highest number of 11.4

The average workplace Collection Pot now sits at £138.65, but Collection Pot’s data also shows many Pots receive significantly more than this, with some occasions such as a ‘New baby’ receiving Pot sizes of several thousands of pounds – more than enough to kit out the nursery!

Wendy Carter, CEO and Founder of Collection Pot, commented:

“With an increasingly cashless society, fragmented workforces and remote or hybrid working policies, it has become more and more difficult to get group collections off the ground. Despite the UK facing a tough economic climate, it’s great to see people still want to show their appreciation for colleagues and contribute generously to celebrate key moments in their lives.

“Whilst we always say people should put in only what they can afford to give, by sharing our data we hope to provide guidance to those people who are unsure about what to contribute. Whether the recipient prefers to receive a gift card or take the cash, a well-organised Collection Pot can really show your coworker they’re valued and appreciated.”