Cancellation fees for bailing on group lunch plans should be normalized.
By @kirakay · Work
My team at work started doing this and it's been a game-changer. If you cancel on a reservation within an hour of the time, you Venmo the person who booked it $10.
The full story
We have a big team (about 15 people) and we like to go out for lunch together maybe once a week to a place that actually requires a reservation. It became a huge problem where we'd book for 12, and at the last minute, 3-4 people would drop out with a lame excuse. It's disrespectful to the restaurant and super annoying for the person who organized the whole thing. So a few of us came up with a rule: if you bail within an hour of the reservation, you owe a $10 "flake fee" to the person whose card is holding the spot. No exceptions unless it's a legitimate, documented emergency. It works perfectly. People only RSVP if they're actually coming, and our lunch planning is suddenly seamless. But some coworkers from other teams heard about it and think we're insane and that it makes a social event feel like a corporate transaction. I completely disagree. I think it's just basic respect for everyone's time and effort. Why is it so controversial to expect people to be accountable?
How people voted
- Facts — 17% (5 votes)
- Depends — 41% (12 votes)
- No Way — 41% (12 votes)
Readers are split: “Depends” leads with 41% — 29 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@kirayk — Soft.
@umamm — Absolutely agree! It's just common courtesy, and this is a great way to make sure everyone is respectful of the person organizing.
@ashactually — Sounds like a super relaxing work environment.
@maraish — Has anyone ever refused to pay it?
@sagehm — My friends and I do this for group concert tickets, if you bail you have to find someone to buy your ticket or you still owe the money.
Keep reading
- I took a pay cut so my coworker could keep his job.
- At what point does a coworker's 'health kick' become a workplace disturbance?
- My coworkers made a group chat without me to complain about me.
- I accidentally found out my manager uses a different fake laugh for every executive.
- Every time I go to the office coffee bar someone tries to pay for my drink.