Work etiquette question

[simms]

Had lunch with a VP today, just to talk about career goals and mentoring...we eat at a restaurant (in the past, we've eaten at the caf). So the bill comes and we split the bill in half on two CCs.

Then, we stop for coffee. He orders first and then I order. I am about to pay for my drink and he offers to pay. I say thank you very much.

Should I have paid (for lunch/coffee/both)? In the past when I have had lunch with them we have ordered separately.

edit: I requested the meeting with him. We both have corporate AMEX's but we both used our own personal cards. We meet up every other month at my request.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Why should u have to pay? He is the VP. I think it is fine that u split both.

 

[nageov3t]

you want him to think you're so rich you don't need the promotion?

 

[Zee]

He's the vp. vp should be paying for all

 

[bctbct]

what kind of VP splits the lunch tab? Head guy pays unless you are buds.

 

[LS21]

^

 

[hypn0tik]

VP should have put it on his corporate card and the company would have paid for it. I don't understand why you split it.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

When my boss brought me out to go eat to talk about career goals, he paid for it.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Hell, he wasn't paying for it...the company was.

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Hell, he wasn't paying for it...the company was.

edited post.. I requested the meeting with him. We both have corporate AMEX's but we both used our own personal cards.

 

[Baked]

You should've paid lunch, he'll return the favor by paying for the post lunch escort.

 

[SampSon]

He pays. You're a sucker for paying.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Baked
You should've paid lunch, he'll return the favor by paying for the post lunch escort.

Your company hiring?

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Baked
You should've paid lunch, he'll return the favor by paying for the post lunch escort.

Your company hiring?

Sorry, we only hire females under 30.

 

[simms]

I don't understand why he would pay. I ask him to mentor me every other month... isn't he doing me a favour?

 

[Ballatician]

Yea I don't understand why he would pay either, it isn't like the corp AMEX is some bottomless source of funds for a non-work related lunch.

 

[LS21]

because, right or wrong, higher ups take very liberal use of expense accounts

 

[Mr Pickles]

Yeah you guys don't understand, lets clear things up. Taking the "liberal use" isn't liberal when everyone does it. There are limits and those limits are monitored just fine. Its no biggie to indulge, in fact in some jobs its to be expected.

They have two different AMEX cards because they monitor their own expenses. Some might even be in two different departments so that makes it even a bigger deal.

Bottom line, if the higher up says he'll get it then let him get it.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: simms
I don't understand why he would pay. I ask him to mentor me every other month... isn't he doing me a favour?

Most VPs I know pay the bill with a business credit card. The paperwork, if audited, states that it was a "business lunch meeting" or some bullshit. The point is that the money isn't coming out of his personal checking account like it does if you pay.