WWYD-- junior associate visiting

[Anonymous]

I'm mid40s director for a multinational that is struggling. Husband has been laid off and money is tight right now. A former intern who I helped to be hired into the company office in NYC is in town for a vacation break (not on company travel) and asked to have lunch with me. I agreed. I dont supervise him in any way. He is in his 20s, no family. Our income difference is clearly in the three digits. I was going to treat him. I made reservations to a nice place for lunch, where the meal was probably going to be like $150 for the two of us. On the day we are meeting, he surprised me by bringing his girlfriend along. The restaurant was able to adjust our reservation. The girlfriend ordered so much $$$ alcohol. So when the waiter came over, I did not lead. My former intern then told the waiter to split the check with me paying my own and him paying for him and his girlfriend. We parted amicably.

I thought that was that.

Fast forward a few weeks after, my boss mentions that the former intern told him that I broke the code of treating junior associates out. Boss laughed it off but I felt I was being admonished. I dont know what the boss knows.

Would you bring it up again with your side of the story? Was I really the ass here? I dont want to pay for some girlfriend's alcohol. I ordered tap water for crying out loud.

it's so petty but it is bothering me

[Anonymous]

I would not bring it up again.

[Anonymous]

Forget about it.

His girlfriend was impolite and this "paying for junior associates code" that you didn't know about doesn't extend to her booze.

Former intern may have learned something about not trying to get free meals for his date. Or about his date's level of manners.

[Anonymous]

I would have said flat out to my boss that it wasn't the lunch you expected because the random gf was there.

Also at my company I would be able to expense this kind of work-social lunch. So if your boss wants to keep up the appearance of generosity, maybe the company shouldn't be so cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have said flat out to my boss that it wasn't the lunch you expected because the random gf was there.

Also at my company I would be able to expense this kind of work-social lunch. So if your boss wants to keep up the appearance of generosity, maybe the company shouldn't be so cheap.

+1. I also think you could have done it in an offhand way like oh yeah I think he split the check because his g/f came along and had quite a few drinks!

BTW I think it is weird that he mentioned paying for his portion regardless of the supposed code. Was he having lunch with you to network or just get a free meal? It seems more like the latter. Also obviously inappropriate to being a g/f to a professional lunch.

[Anonymous]

This doesn’t sound like a business lunch as I can’t imagine the two of you would discuss client business in front of his girlfriend.

He was looking for a free lunch and to cause you trouble.

Maybe be more strategic going forward?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t sound like a business lunch as I can’t imagine the two of you would discuss client business in front of his girlfriend.

He was looking for a free lunch and to cause you trouble.

Maybe be more strategic going forward?

This.

Why would the junior associate mention this to higher ups, unless he wanted to cause you trouble?

[Anonymous]

I would have said the coded was broken the moment JÁ brought booze-swilling alcoholic obnoxious girlfriend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have said flat out to my boss that it wasn't the lunch you expected because the random gf was there.

Also at my company I would be able to expense this kind of work-social lunch. So if your boss wants to keep up the appearance of generosity, maybe the company shouldn't be so cheap.

This. He broke code too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have said the coded was broken the moment JÁ brought booze-swilling alcoholic obnoxious girlfriend.

Right? Any code doesn't include $60 of drinks for an uninvited girlfriend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t sound like a business lunch as I can’t imagine the two of you would discuss client business in front of his girlfriend.

He was looking for a free lunch and to cause you trouble.

Maybe be more strategic going forward?

This.

Why would the junior associate mention this to higher ups, unless he wanted to cause you trouble?

+1

Law firm ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have said flat out to my boss that it wasn't the lunch you expected because the random gf was there.

Also at my company I would be able to expense this kind of work-social lunch. So if your boss wants to keep up the appearance of generosity, maybe the company shouldn't be so cheap.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This doesn’t sound like a business lunch as I can’t imagine the two of you would discuss client business in front of his girlfriend.

He was looking for a free lunch and to cause you trouble.

Maybe be more strategic going forward?

This.

Why would the junior associate mention this to higher ups, unless he wanted to cause you trouble?

+1

Law firm ?

AGREEEEE he is coming for you.

[Anonymous]

How much did she drink? I’d probably have paid anyway, but it’s weird for someone to have more than a couple of drinks at a meal you think someone else is paying for, especially when the person paying is senior at your bf’s company.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Im steering clear of the junior. We are in different areas. The girlfriend ordered about $60 worth of alcohol, almost a meal in its own. It just really put me off