My coworkers want to charge a cancellation fee for bailing on lunch plans.
By @danakay · Work
A few of us from the office go out for lunch, but one guy keeps suggesting we implement a $10 fee if you cancel last-minute. they says it's about respecting everyone's time and money, I think it's insane to apply business terms to a friendship.
The full story
There's a group of about five of us at my job who started a little tradition of trying a new lunch place every Friday. It was casual, no big deal. But recently, a couple of people have had to bail at the last minute, which can be annoying, especially if we're ordering family-style food or something where the cost per person depends on the headcount. Yesterday, we went to this taco place that does big shareable platters. We based our order on five guys eating. As we're at the counter, one guy's girlfriend calls with a minor emergency, and he has to leave. Fine, life happens. But the rest of us are left with way too much food and the per-person cost obviously goes up. Later that afternoon, one of the guys in the group—the one who's always angling for a promotion—sends a message in our group chat. He formally proposes a 'Lunch Club Charter.' I'm not kidding. His proposal is that if you cancel within two hours of the reservation, you have to Venmo $10 to a group pot. they says this will 'ensure accountability' and the pot can be used to pay for a future group meal. I told him that's an objectively insane idea. We're friends from work getting lunch, not a subscription service. Sometimes work meetings run late, or your kid gets sick, or your car won't start. Am I supposed to pay a penalty for that? He thinks I'm being difficult, and that it's just about 'fairness.' The other guys are split. Now there's a serious, formal poll in the chat about ratifying the 'charter.' This has gone way too far.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 28% (11 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 53% (21 votes)
- You’re Fine — 20% (8 votes)
Readers say “It’s Complicated” (53%) — 40 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@ididntmeanthat — Ah yes, the Lunch Club Charter. Can't wait for the Q3 performance review.
@niamaybe — This reminds me of when my D&D group tried to fine people for being late. The group did not last long after that.
@paigekay — Are we sure this isn't just about one person who cancels constantly?
@sashalol — Can't you guys just stop ordering family style and pay for your own meals?
@abbyyy — you should counter-propose that the fee is doubled if the cancellation reason is lame
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