Cultural Tip: Going Out To Lunch with American Coworkers

Cultural Tip:Going Out to Lunch with American Coworkers
How to respond to lunch and drink invitations from American coworkers, in a culturally appropriate way.
©2010 Authentic Journeys journeys.alaivani.comjenkumar@gmail.com(585)387-9325

Hi Everyone. I am Jennifer Kumar from Authentic Journeys and Alaivani.com.How are you?
Have you ever been invited out for lunch or dinner or drinks with your colleagues and wondered if you should pay your own way of if you should let your colleague pay your way?
Well, I have some thoughts on that I’d like to share.
Photo credit: Chesi - Fotos CC @flickr

If your colleague is asking you out for lunch, drinks or dinner, this should be during your working hours or directly after your working hours. It’s considered a friendly outing, and you will pay your own way under 99% of the circumstances. You will pay for your own bill and you If your colleague is asking you out for lunch, drinks or dinner, this should be during your working hours or directly after your working hours. It’s considered a friendly outing, and you will pay your own way under 99% of the circumstances. You will pay for your own bill and you will pay for your own tips.
Photo credit: LevelTen_Colin @flickr ,

The only time your colleague may pay the tab or bill for you is if it’s a special occasion.
-For instance, if it’s your birthday.
-Maybe you got a promotion.
-Maybe a new baby’s been born
in your family.
-Or, maybe some other kind of
special occasion has happened
for you.
photo credit: seeks2dream @flickr
Your colleague could offer to buy you lunch or drinks. So, what would you do in that circumstance?

Well, this is what I usually have done.
If it was my birthday, my colleague would say,
“Hey Jennifer, yawanna go out for a birthday
lunch, I’ll treat you?”
I’ll say, “I’ll go out for lunch with you, but that’s
ok, I can pay for myself.”
And, then, my colleague would say, “No, Jennifer,
come on, it’s your birthday, ya know, let me just give
yaa small treat. It’s not a big deal.”
And, I’ll say, “Well, I still would like to pay for myself,
but I’m happy to go out to lunch with you, anyway
and spend time with you.” photo credit: meddygarnet @flickr
And, then my colleague would say, “No, come on, Jennifer, let me pay for you.”
And, then after that, I would let them pay.
You don’t want to keep the “bargaining” going on back and forth, but if your colleague is gonna offer to pay, they would ask you in that first sentence itself when they invite you to lunch. That’s usually what’s happened with me.

The only other circumstance where colleagues or office will pay for your outing, your lunch, if it’s a ‘team building effort’ or it’s something your office is sponsoring. Your office is sponsoring some kind of retreat, or lunch, or outing of some kind, then the office will pay the bill.
Photo credit: Krishna Kumar @flickr
You might need to ask if your boss hasn’t told you what kind of things are accepted to be paid for on that tab.My understanding is 99% of things are paid for. Alcoholic beverages will not be paid for by most company’s tabs. That depends on the company you work for. If you don’t drink alcohol, then you don’t need to worry about that.
These are just some of my thoughts about going out to work with your colleagues and who should pay.
Photo credit: Evil Erin @flickr

Eager to hear your thoughts, experiences and questions -jenkumar@gmail.com. Would you like to participate in cross-cultural mentoring? Are you adjusting to new cultures or lifestyles and want some guidance? I am Jennifer Kumar, Lifestyle and Cultural Adjustment Mentor of Authentic Journeys.
Website at http://journeys.alaivani.com E-mail: jenkumar@gmail.com Phone: (585) 387-9325Jennifer Kumar, Lifestyle and Cultural MentorAuthentic JourneysP.O. Box 284Pittsford, NY 14534 USAThank you for spending your time with me today.

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Cultural Tip: Going Out To Lunch with American Coworkers

by Jennifer Kumar on Feb 12, 2010

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Cultural Tip: Going Out To Lunch with American Coworkers — Webinar Transcript