On the job : Money etiquette at office It’s probably one of the thorniest office issues — money. Whether it’s a birthday, a leaving do, or sponsorship for a charity event, what is acceptable to ask for, and what is crossing the line? Here are our top tips: •The golden rule is never to make people uncomfortable, or put them in a position where they feel they have to cough up. This simply leads to resentment and is counter-productive. • Where office birthdays are concerned, keep it simple. A card is enough for people to know you wish them a happy birthday. Particularly in a big office, birthdays are frequent occurrences, and can end up being a big drain on the purse, especially for more junior employees. • Leaving occasions are arguably slightly different, especially if someone has worked for the organisation for a while. It’s important to them and to the office to mark their contribution and their departure. But there’s no need to go overboard, it really is the thought that counts. Allocate a range for any contributions, and do not press anyone who for whatever reason doesn’t wish to contribute. How on earth do you say no without looking like Scrooge? A simple response is to say that you already support another charity and would prefer to concentrate your support on them. If you are the person seeking sponsorship, make it clear that you are not expecting sponsorship, and make sure that you personally thank everyone who does put their hand in their pocket. And don’t even think about asking for sponsorship more than once a year. Little and seldom is the key. — Agencies