Would you pay a 'cancellation fee' to a coworker for backing out of lunch plans?
By @karamm · Work
A group of us at my office try to have lunch together once a week. One person has now instituted a '$5 cancellation fee' if you back out the morning of, to 'compensate for the social disruption.' I think this is absurd.
The full story
There's a group of about six of us in my department who try to get out of the office for lunch once a week. It's all very casual—or at least it was. One person on the team is a hyper-organizer and has taken it upon themselves to be the official coordinator. Last week, they sent an email instituting a new policy: a $5 'cancellation fee' if you RSVP 'yes' but back out the morning of the lunch. Their justification is that it's 'socially disruptive' and messes up the reservation or the 'group dynamic.' The money is supposed to go to the person who still goes to lunch, as a sort of compensation for the inconvenience. I had to cancel this morning because an unexpected meeting was put on my calendar. I emailed the group to let them know, and the coordinator replied-all, 'No problem, just Venmo me the $5 when you have a chance.' I was floored. It's not about the money, it's the principle. We're coworkers, not a club with membership dues. Am I really expected to pay someone because I had to work? This feels like a massive overstep and makes me not want to participate at all anymore.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 32% (13 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 41% (17 votes)
- You’re Fine — 27% (11 votes)
Readers are split: “It’s Complicated” leads with 41% — 41 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@hollyy — That is absolutely ridiculous. Your coworker is on a power trip and is sucking the fun out of a friendly get-together. You're right to feel weird about it!
@justnope — That person is trying to monetize a friendship, that's a huge boundary issue.
@totallyfine — i love the smell of a reply-all war in the morning.
@finn — LMAO
@judewelp — My old boss tried to make everyone chip in for a 'snack fund' he managed and then got mad when people brought their own snacks.
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