Holiday office etiquette: 3 Survival tips

Problem #3: The Bonus

Some coworkers received an envelope. Did you get one, too?If you got one, be discreet. “Money is a very sensitive issue – if you talk about your bonus, you might jeopardize your chances of getting one in the future,” Whitmore says. If a coworker won’t stop drilling you, just say you’re uncomfortable discussing money. Or, try humor: “I did get one, but it’s certainly not enough to brag about.”If you were overlooked, avoid the subject with colleagues – it’s both rude and futile to bring it up. “If you didn’t get a bonus, discussing it with your coworkers won’t help you. Discussing it with your boss might,” says Whitmore. Approach your supervisor and say you’re not sure whether others got bonuses, but you feel you deserve one. Be prepared to back up the assertion. “The answer is always ‘no’ if you don’t ask,” says Whitmore. But do it with grace and humor – it’s not in the holiday spirit to put someone on the spot.