A street cleaner in Beckenham, south east London, has been informed by his employer that he cannot accept £3,000 raised by local residents in appreciation of his hard work.
Paul Spiers, 63, has been dedicated to cleaning the streets since 2017, earning admiration from the community. To reward his efforts, neighbours set up a GoFundMe page to help him afford a holiday to Portugal.
However, Veolia, the company Paul works for, stated that due to its contract with Bromley Council, employees are not allowed to accept any money or gifts beyond their agreed salary.
A community who raised almost £3,000 to send their beloved road sweeper on the holiday of a lifetime, have been told he can’t accept the money due to restrictions with his employer.
Paul Spiers, who turned 63 last week, has been cleaning the streets of Beckenham since 2017.
As… pic.twitter.com/VvvDYsn7pm
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Lisa Knight, Paul’s friend who organised the fundraising, expressed her disappointment. She highlighted Paul’s significant role in the community and the residents’ desire to give him a meaningful gift as a token of their gratitude.
Lisa shared an update explaining the restrictions imposed by Veolia’s contract, which prevent Paul from accepting the donations. She assured donors that if the matter couldn’t be resolved, they would receive refunds.
Many locals reacted angrily to the news. Jessica Skelton questioned the fairness of the decision on a local Facebook group, arguing that the money was a gift from the community, not a work-related bonus. Others, like Mel Tunmore and Diana Bailey-Raho Davidson, suggested alternative ways for Paul to receive the gift, such as after his retirement.
In a statement, Veolia acknowledged the community’s support for Paul and explained that they were not aware of the fundraising effort in advance. Due to contractual obligations, they couldn’t allow the funds to be given directly to Paul. Instead, Veolia proposed matching the amount raised, to be donated to a charity of Paul’s choice. They also mentioned that Paul would receive an internal financial reward as Bromley’s Employee of the Quarter.
Bromley Council confirmed that since Paul is employed by Veolia, the issue falls under the company’s jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why can’t Paul accept the £3,000 raised by his neighbours?
Veolia’s contract with Bromley Council prohibits employees from accepting monetary gifts or incentives outside of their regular salary.
Who raised the money for Paul Spiers?
Paul’s neighbours in Beckenham, south east London, raised the money through a GoFundMe page.
What was the money raised for?
The money was raised to help Paul afford a dream holiday to Portugal.
What will happen to the donated money if Paul can’t accept it?
If unsuccessful in allowing Paul to accept the money, donors will be refunded.
Is there any way Paul can still be recognized for his hard work?
Yes, Veolia will match the amount raised for a charity of Paul’s choice and has named him Bromley’s Employee of the Quarter.