Proceed with CAUTION ……Recession Etiquette, Part I

Do you know someone who recently lost their job? How about someone loosing their home, a huge portion of their investments or their retirement? Then there is their health insurance, other benefits or perhaps a cut in time or salary. This list can go on and on. No doubt, you do know someone, perhaps several people who have felt the negative impact from our economy.

Etiquette is all about making people feel comfortable and confident with themselves and around others. This is a tough time for etiquette, even if you know all the niceties and the ins and outs of being polite. What do you say when a coworker tells you that their spouse lost their job? What do you do when a close friend looses their job and comes to you asking for assistance in the form of money? Maybe you are feeling strapped by the economy yourself and are invited to many social affairs and don’t know how far to extend yourself financially. These are all the trappings of the times and very real to many of us.

If you are interested in how to handle RSVPs for weddings or what to do when you receive multiple invites on a limited budget, visit: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/special_reports&id=6815380 to see my interview with Nydia Han from 6 ABC. In May, Nydia Han and Heather Grubola interviewed me about Recession Etiquette. Their article is also posted at the above address.

So, what can you do when a coworker or friend tells you of their economic woes?

Listen. The best thing anyone can do right now is to listen and speak little. A consoling word or two is appropriate, but an oral dissertation is a real no no.

If someone asks to borrow money and you are considering it, keep it businesslike. Put everything in writing including the terms of the agreement. There is no faster way to ruin a relationship than to have a disagreement about money.

RSVPs slow down in a turbulent economy. People put off making the decision about attending affairs. Be courteous about your response timing. If you can not afford to attend the event, get that RSVP back to the host in a timely fashion.

More Recession Etiquette is coming next month. If you have a question you want answered, please e-mail me and I will be happy to reply.

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