I help your Indian employees communicate better with and understand Americans. I am based in Kochi, India and provide ready-made and specialized soft-skill coaching solutions in person or via phone or Internet. Website: http://www.authenticjourneys.info E-mail: authenticjourneys@gmail.com Also see, "Welcome to America" cross-cultural training with e-online solutions and Train the Trainer (done via webinar) options available here- http://globalcoachcenter.com/living-and-working-in-usa-lp

1. How to respond to lunch and drink invitations from
American coworkers, in a culturally appropriate way.
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

2. Have you ever been invited out for lunch or dinner or drinks with your
colleagues and wondered if you should pay your own way of if you should
let your colleague pay your way?
Well, I have some thoughts on that I’d like to share.
Photo credit: Chesi - Fotos CC @flickr
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

3. If your colleague is asking you out
for lunch, drinks or dinner, this
should be during your working
hours or directly after your
working hours. It’s considered a
friendly outing, and you will pay
your own way under 99% of the
circumstances. You will pay for
your own bill and you If your
colleague is asking you out for
lunch, drinks or dinner, this should
be during your working hours or
directly after your working hours.
It’s considered a friendly outing,
and you will pay your own way
under 99% of the circumstances.
Photo credit: LevelTen_Colin @flickr ,
You will pay for your own bill and
you will pay for your own tips.
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

4. The only time your colleague may pay the tab or bill for you is if it’s a
special occasion.
-For instance, if it’s your birthday.
-Maybe you got a promotion.
-Maybe a new baby’s been born
in your family.
-Or, maybe some other kind of
special occasion has happened
for you.
photo credit: seeks2dream @flickr
Your colleague could offer to buy you lunch or drinks. So, what would you
do in that circumstance?
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

5. Well, this is what I usually have done.
If it was my birthday, my colleague would say,
“Hey Jennifer, ya wanna go out for a birthday
lunch, I’ll treat you?”
I’ll say, “I’ll go out for lunch with you, but that’s
ok, I can pay for myself.”
And, then, my colleague would say, “No, Jennifer,
come on, it’s your birthday, ya know, let me just give
ya a small treat. It’s not a big deal.”
And, I’ll say, “Well, I still would like to pay for myself,
but I’m happy to go out to lunch with you, anyway
and spend time with you.” photo credit: meddygarnet @flickr
And, then my colleague would say, “No, come on, Jennifer, let me pay for you, I insist.”
And, then after that, I would let them pay.
You don’t want to keep the “bargaining” going on back and forth, but if your colleague is gonna offer to pay,
they would ask you in that first sentence itself when they invite you to lunch. That’s usually what’s happened
with me.
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

6. The only other circumstance where colleagues or office
will pay for your outing, your lunch, if it’s a ‘team building
effort’ or it’s something your office is sponsoring. Your
office is sponsoring some kind of retreat, or lunch, or
outing of some kind, then the office will pay the bill.
Photo credit: Krishna Kumar @flickr
You might need to ask if your boss hasn’t told you what kind of
things are accepted to be paid for on that tab.
My understanding is 99% of things are paid for. Alcoholic
beverages will not be paid for by most companies’ tabs. That
depends on the company you work for. If you don’t drink alcohol,
then you don’t need to worry about that.
These are just some of my thoughts about going out to work with
your colleagues and who should pay.
Photo credit: Evil Erin @flickr
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info

7. Eager to hear your thoughts, experiences and questions -
authenticjourneys@gmail.com .
For those working with Americans, living in the US or abroad,
corporate communication coaching is available in person in
Kochi, India or worldwide via the Internet or phone.
©2010-2012 Jennifer Kumar authenticjourneys@gmail.com www.authenticjourneys.info