Sensitive Issue With Work Colleague Borrowing Money

[PIGGYPOO]

I am the Manager of a small office. Have a newish member of staff (6 months) who is a friend of the family and is in her early 20's. Problem is she is starting to ask to borrow money from my two other staff members £150, £20's etc. and promises to pay them back payday but that was 2 months ago! They have told me but sworn me to secrecy as we work so closely. She asked last month for me to give her a salary advance I said no. Last week she asked to borrow £10 which I lent her and she gave it back the next day. This morning she text me before work to borrow £30 I text back NO. I feel mean but this has to stop. She is always out clubbing and eating in expensive places etc. My staff are getting very unsettled as we deal with a lot of cash takings in the office which is all signed off by me and I have the keys to the safes. Which I am now not keen on leaving in my bag or on my desk. She has lots of debts according to a sheet a member of staff see on her desk payday loans, wonga etc. I think her family won't lend her money anymore so she is asking us. Best ideas to deal with this please? So difficult as she is a friend of the family etc. Thanks.

[pastafreak]

Maybe you need to sit down with her and have a chat. Without mentioning your colleagues, let her know that you've noticed she seems to be struggling money-wise,and while you were OK with loaning her some cash *once*,more than that is not possible. Gently(or sternly...depending on your style) suggest she get debt counseling. If she is borrowing from both you and your staff,she probably is from others too.
If she is a friend of the family all the more reason to nip this in the bud now.

[PIGGYPOO]

Thank you.