Money Moral Dilemma: Should I keep the money I found at work?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

Walking into the office where I work the other morning, I found a £20 note on the floor in reception. There was no one around to ask if it was theirs. I work for a fairly big company - do I send an email around asking if anyone has lost £20, even though there would be no way for them to prove it's theirs, or should I keep it? I've had a rough couple of weeks, so could use the pick me up.

Unfortunately the MSE team can't answer Money Moral Dilemma questions as contributions are emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be a point of debate and discussed at face value. Remember that behind each dilemma there is a real person so, as the forum rules say, please keep it kind and keep it clean.

  If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

  Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? Suggest an MMD.

comeandgo

It may have been left there to check your honesty.  Someone dropped it, it’s not yours.  Give it to HR to deal with.

MoodyMand45

I found 40 pound a few years ago in a previous job and i gave it to my boss and watched him pocket it, he told me this will pay for his wife's weekend meal, needless to say honesty is not always the best policy. 

Savvy_Sue

Send an email saying you found some money, don't say exactly where, see who says they've lost £20

That person may be in even more need than you, remember.

Sandtree

Advise the reception manager and suggest it goes into the charity box if no one claims it.

Own_Worst_Enermy

Whilst not at work but walking I found a tenner once in some grass. No chance of finding the person. I put it in my ‘purse’ as a treasured security blanket then about exactly a year later it slipped out of my phone case, it kind of threw me it had gone but hopefully it helped the next person out.

TELLIT01

I agree with Savvy Sue.  An email saying a quantity of cash has been found, not the amount or even whether it's notes or coins.

pammieb

Don't even consider thinking about keeping it. Apart from the moral aspect, there could be CCTV that may assist in the search for this money, should it be reported as missing. Then that is your job and reputation on the line.

Do the right thing and hand it to security and send out that staff email. Whatever happens next, hopefully you will have given the owner faith in the decency of human nature.

iclayt

It hasn't appeared on the floor by some miracle with the aim of you finding it and being cheered up, it belongs to someone else and isn't yours. It's not a deserted street, it's your employer's reception and reasonably could belong to a colleague rather than a long gone visitor. Email round and say some money was found on the premises, if someone pipes up feel free to ask them how much and if they know whereabouts, but even if they're making it up it's as much their money as yours i.e. not at all. If no one claims it either keep it or put in in a charity box. What goes around comes around.

gothvixen

I've been in a position, when I was teaching full time, where losing £5 meant I couldn't pay for electricity for our meter and I had 2 sons under 10. I would never keep cash if it might be possible to return it. As has been said, give no details and ask if anyone's lost some money, then go to HR if nobody claims it. You never know what anyone's circumstances might be.

Bigfra46

Could be your boss, leaving it there in full view of cameras to test someone's honesty. Looking an excuse to fire someone! Tell reception you found some money, dont hand it in or tell how much. If no one comes forward in a month then keep it it's yours!