Write an email denying a request for a salary advance.

Imagine that you own a website design firm, and an employee asks you for a favor: a one-month salary advance. This is one of your best employees, someone who has worked with you for over five years, and you know she’s buying a house. But you cannot advance her the money for these reasons:

• It’s against your company policy (according to your employee handbook).

• You want to be fair to everyone and cannot accommodate others’ requests.

• You don’t want this to set a precedent for this employee.

• You don’t believe it’s your responsibility.

Decide how you’ll organize the email and which of these reasons you will present to the employee. You don’t need to include everything unless you believe it will explain your rationale and maintain the employee’s goodwill.