How late is too late?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Muta

I booked a huge lunch yesterday for 30 of my co-workers. I made everyone confirm with me that they were coming.

So, 22 people show up. 8 people didn't that confirmed. None of them told me. A couple of them told others, but I didn't receive any email or phone call. You'd think it'd be relatively easy to contact me, since we're all in the same office.

To top it off, I ended up having to pay an additional $50 of my own money to cover the rest of the tab.

That's the last time I book lunch for people, and try to do something fun with my co-workers at lunch. Perhaps next time someone else can do the bookings and organize something; I'm done with that.

I would send an email to the 8 that didn't show up telling them that thier rudeness cost you $50 out of your own pocket to cover the tab. Don't ask for money, just wait to see who comes to you and apologies. The one that don't take a mental note and file it for future reference.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Dion

I would send an email to the 8 that didn't show up telling them that thier rudeness cost you $50 out of your own pocket to cover the tab. Don't ask for money, just wait to see who comes to you and apologies. The one that don't take a mental note and file it for future reference.

Not a bad idea. The problem is, though, that the extra amount was from the people at the lunch, who all happened to leave the restaurant after paying their 'amounts'. There was no cost for the people that didn't show up.

One problem with booking big lunches like these, is that a good handful of people tend to round down their amounts, assuming that the rest would just be made up by others. When everyone does it, then that's when it starts to add up. And looky look, I'm the one that has to pay it.

One of my better friends in the office sent out an email saying that I covered the rest of the bill, and that everyone who was at lunch should just give me a buck or two each to make up for it. By the end of the day, I received $5 in total. From one guy.

I will still be speaking on Monday to the people that booked and didn't show up. I absolutely despise this type of behavior.

Here's another thing that's annoying...

I chair my staff meetings every month in my office. I come up with the agendas, information, presentations and whatever else. I do this in addition to my projects, as I have just as many projects to work on as everyone else in the office. We are supposed to rotate every three months. I have now been doing it since June.

I've brought it up at two staff meetings in a row; there has not been ONE volunteer to assume the responsibilities, even though it is supposed to be a rotated volunteer thing. I bring it up in the meetings in front of 100 people, and not ONE person volunteers. Everyone just listens to what I say and then quickly shuffle out of the room.

I guess what annoys me is the fact that people think someone else is going to do it, and so they never volunteer. No worries though, it's not like I'm busy with my projects or anything. I've only been doing it for six months straight.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Muta

Here's another thing that's annoying...

I chair my staff meetings every month in my office. I come up with the agendas, information, presentations and whatever else. I do this in addition to my projects, as I have just as many projects to work on as everyone else in the office. We are supposed to rotate every three months. I have now been doing it since June.

I've brought it up at two staff meetings in a row; there has not been ONE volunteer to assume the responsibilities, even though it is supposed to be a rotated volunteer thing. I bring it up in the meetings in front of 100 people, and not ONE person volunteers. Everyone just listens to what I say and then quickly shuffle out of the room.

I guess what annoys me is the fact that people think someone else is going to do it, and so they never volunteer. No worries though, it's not like I'm busy with my projects or anything. I've only been doing it for six months straight.

You keep doing it and the rest of the members keep thinking that if they don't volunteer you'll do it again. You enable these people with your behaviour. At the next staff meeting simply mention that you are not chairing the meetings anymore and that someone has to step up. Then then leave the meeting and show up late on purpose for the next. They'll get the message in a hurry

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Dion

You keep doing it and the rest of the members keep thinking that if they don't volunteer you'll do it again. You enable these people with your behaviour. At the next staff meeting simply mention that you are not chairing the meetings anymore and that someone has to step up. Then then leave the meeting and show up late on purpose for the next. They'll get the message in a hurry

Duly noted. That's actually good advice Dion, thank you... only problem that it's likely I'll get in trouble for it. Another related thing that annoys me here is that the office has a lot of energetic, young people like me; you'd think that someone would just step up. Guess that's asking for too much.

[Eastern Girl]

Maybe you should just randomly pick someone. If everyone is going to have to do it eventually at one point or another, then just pick someone and be done with it. I would choose whoever attempts to leave the meeting first.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

Maybe you should just randomly pick someone. If everyone is going to have to do it eventually at one point or another, then just pick someone and be done with it. I would choose whoever attempts to leave the meeting first.

That's another awesome idea! I've been toying with the idea of just randomly selecting someone in the room; the only problem is that, isn't that a little bit harsh? I don't want to have people look at me negatively because of it.

I was also thinking about writing down everyone's name and putting it in a hat, then drawing it at the meeting... it would put that person on the spot, however, and I don't want to embarass them...

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by Muta

Not a bad idea. The problem is, though, that the extra amount was from the people at the lunch, who all happened to leave the restaurant after paying their 'amounts'. There was no cost for the people that didn't show up.

One problem with booking big lunches like these, is that a good handful of people tend to round down their amounts, assuming that the rest would just be made up by others. When everyone does it, then that's when it starts to add up. And looky look, I'm the one that has to pay it.

One of my better friends in the office sent out an email saying that I covered the rest of the bill, and that everyone who was at lunch should just give me a buck or two each to make up for it. By the end of the day, I received $5 in total. From one guy.

Next time, record who paid what, then go back and audit the bill and publicly humiliate whomever it was that shorted you.

We had this problem in our office and someone ended up writing a spreadsheet to calculate who owed what. AND we switched to preordering. In addition to generally being bad at math and cheaping out on the tip and forgetting taxes (esp. if you are in a province with PST as well) people will often assume that drink refills are free or that when a waiter asks "would you like XYZ with that" they assume that it's free (which is funny because it never is.) My best buddy was one of the worst culprits at this.

[Eastern Girl]

Originally Posted by Muta

That's another awesome idea! I've been toying with the idea of just randomly selecting someone in the room; the only problem is that, isn't that a little bit harsh? I don't want to have people look at me negatively because of it.

I was also thinking about writing down everyone's name and putting it in a hat, then drawing it at the meeting... it would put that person on the spot, however, and I don't want to embarass them...

It's also harsh or unfair that no one would step up and take responsibility from you, when you have done more than what you were required to do.

But, sure, your suggestion works as well. I don't think your way would be embarrassing. It would be completely up to chance.

Ask for a volunteer, say that if you don't get one, someone will be chosen either on the spot or randomly via the hat. Pick someone before the meeting is out and that's that.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Muta

That's another awesome idea! I've been toying with the idea of just randomly selecting someone in the room; the only problem is that, isn't that a little bit harsh? I don't want to have people look at me negatively because of it.

I was also thinking about writing down everyone's name and putting it in a hat, then drawing it at the meeting... it would put that person on the spot, however, and I don't want to embarass them...

You simply say...."Look people. No one is volunteering to run these meetings accept me. This is supposed to be a shared responsibility. Since people are not coming forward you're forcing me to pick someone. Now do we have any volunteers before i pick?"

[chid]

Originally Posted by Muta

That's another awesome idea! I've been toying with the idea of just randomly selecting someone in the room; the only problem is that, isn't that a little bit harsh? I don't want to have people look at me negatively because of it.

I was also thinking about writing down everyone's name and putting it in a hat, then drawing it at the meeting... it would put that person on the spot, however, and I don't want to embarass them...

I would definitely just put everyone's name in a hat next meeting and draw a name, and continue doing that. It is not harsh at all, if you are putting in more work and they aren't. Maybe make a memo about your new method so everyone is aware you'll be doing it.

I've learned with a kindergarten class, that giving them a yes or no question NEVER works. (ie asking if they want to help me) Instead I present options, with your co-workers maybe give them the option to either do a sign up sheet for volunteering OR you do names from a hat. So take a vote next meeting

[troutman]

Long White Beard - "The polite way to let people know you've been waiting." wear obviously fake long white beards in situations where others have kept you waiting. (SNL)

[Crispy's Critter]

Originally Posted by Muta

That's another awesome idea! I've been toying with the idea of just randomly selecting someone in the room; the only problem is that, isn't that a little bit harsh? I don't want to have people look at me negatively because of it.

I was also thinking about writing down everyone's name and putting it in a hat, then drawing it at the meeting... it would put that person on the spot, however, and I don't want to embarass them...

I would only put the 8 people's names who didn't show up for your dinner in the hat

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

Maybe you should just randomly pick someone. If everyone is going to have to do it eventually at one point or another, then just pick someone and be done with it. I would choose whoever attempts to leave the meeting first.

I'd suggest something else instead. At the next meeting, I'd hold a draw with a mystery prize. I'd let people put their names in on their own and then after the "winner" has been announced, I'd reveal that the "mystery prize" is added responsibilities.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I'd suggest something else instead. At the next meeting, I'd hold a draw with a mystery prize. I'd let people put their names in on their own and then after the "winner" has been announced, I'd reveal that the "mystery prize" is added responsibilities.

Hahaha, that's not bad either...

I'll have to revive this thread next month and let everyone know what happened...