‘Smart Money’: Asking for Gifts at the Office

More and more, workers are being solicited for charitable gifts by their bosses and colleagues, says Smart Money (October). Employees are asked to buy Girl Scout cookies, donate to walkathons, or otherwise make a gift to their fellow workers’ favorite causes, says the magazine.

Because such solicitations are becoming more common, the magazine asked experts for advice on how to deal with requests. Peggy Post, co-author of The Etiquette Advantage in Business, tells the magazine, “It’s good to pitch in every now and then and not be the ogre.”

Still, she advises, employees should not feel compelled to give to causes they are not interested in helping, and should simply decline with a polite thank you. If pressed to explain, she suggests: “Don’t get argumentative or confrontational, and if they hand you materials about their cause, take them and offer to look them over.”

The article is available at http://www.smartmoney.com.