# What would you do in this situation? (work-related) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606 "2013-05-17T16:30:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606/21 "2013-05-17T18:46:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > A simple, “Sorry, I have plans for that day” would have sufficed (they don’t need to know that your plan is to not go for lunch with them). I have used that line recently, only to hear, “Ummmmm, I didn’t mention what day we were going”. ☹ And no, I wouldn’t waste a lunch on someone I wasn’t friends with. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606/22 "2013-05-17T19:16:04Z")
If I wasn’t friendly with the person, I would probably only go if I had cash in my wallet (unlikely) and if it would extend my lunch hour past the time I usually get back (less likely because I usually take a later lunch). One of the things I hate about lunch meetings and birthday lunches and the like is that they always take place at noon, when the majority of my company goes to lunch. I cover my department during that time (except on special occasions) and go to lunch at one–getting back from lunch any earlier than two o’clock makes the afternoon _interminable_ to me. So yeah, I don’t think you did anything wrong. I don’t even think this was a “team player” situation. They weren’t going to lunch to brainstorm ideas for the new Whatchamacallit Project. If you don’t want to go, don’t go. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606/23 "2013-05-17T19:28:36Z")
Going probably would have been the office politic thing to do, but if you chose not to go you really should have come up with a better excuse than saving money to spend on your boat. Doctor’s appointment, business meeting, gym, vague “other obligation”…pretty much anything would have been better than the excuse you gave. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606/24 "2013-05-17T19:32:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have used that line recently, only to hear, “Ummmmm, I didn’t mention what day we were going”. :(\ Well, you have to use it judiciously. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606/25 "2013-05-17T19:40:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Well, you have to use it judiciously. 🙂 NOW you tell me!😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-work-related/658606.md?page=1)