Is it permissible to receive zakat from one's employer to pay off a debt incurred by another person?

The money given to the office owner is for mudarabah (definition) (commenda partnership); he does not guarantee it unless he transgresses or is negligent. It is permissible to receive zakat (definition) from the office owner if you are among its eight categories of recipients. It is also permissible to take it to pay off a debt if the office owner does not guarantee the money and you have nothing with which to pay your debt. Zakat is not obligatory on the amount that has become a debt owed to you by the office owner if its repayment is not guaranteed. However, if it is guaranteed, then zakat is obligatory on it.