Image from Veer.comIn some companies, offices are so close and people have worked together for so long that it can feel like family. So when the longest-standing employee decides to retire, the boss’ daughter is having a baby, or the receptionist is turning 30, it can feel like turning your back on your family if you don’t contribute to a coworker’s well-intentioned cause. Here are some things to keep in mind before asking for too much of your office mates:
- Do not go office-to-office soliciting donations for a present or an outing for someone. No matter how high your aspirations are, it’s impolite to put people on the spot, especially in front of other coworkers. The most appropriate way to ask for contributions is to send out a group email or to post something around the office. You can have an envelope on your desk for folks to drop off their contribution, no questions asked.
- Respect boundaries. If someone cannot attend an event you are hosting or hasn’t responded to your invitation, don’t push it. Though they should tactfully let you know where they stand, work and social conundrums can leave a lot of people puzzled at how to behave appropriately.
- Events that occur on office property should include everyone and shouldn’t be segregated by who ‘contributed’ or not. Events held off-site are a completely different story, as long as all invitations and collateral were sent outside of the work environment.
Making Etiquette Easy,
Susan K. Medina
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