thread about a thread... going for a work meal.

[DuelingFANGo]

Inspired by the other thread about splitting bills and also by the fact that I have just been told that our works christmas meal will not be subsidised by the company I work for this year because of the economic climate...

So, what was supposed to be a free meal is now going to cost everyone about £15; we've paid a £5 deposit.

Would it be bad ettiquette for me to raise the subject now with the person organising it and ask how the bill will be paid or should I wait until I'm at the meal?

DO IT NOW!!

so that we've got something to talk about!

I think you are quite within your rights to ask this.

god you were lucky to get free do's in previous years
£15 is cheap too although i imagine drinks will be extra
it is the drinks that cause the problems, whereci work those having soft drinks put in a couple of quid and the rest is split btw drinkers
there is always some miser who doesnt want to tip

I would ask now rather than stew over it and get stressed out. If they think you're petty for raising it then they're probably the type who order a G&T on arrival, several bottles of non-house wine 'to share' (even though nobody else wants it) and then a baileys coffee and a brandy to round it off then call others tight when they don't want to split the bill and subsidise them.

it's the drinks which have caused problems before TBH. One year we had several people ordering bottles of wine for the table and saying 'put them on the bill' even though not everyone was involved in the drinking! The next year we did have a rule saying all drinks must be paid for at the bar... a rule enforced by me as I was organising the meal. It made me really unpopular and I have never put myself forward to organise the work meal ever again!

Ask now and get it clarified in writing to everyone who is going. It saves a lot of hassle on the night when people say "Oh I assumed x...." and the arguments start...

The best way for work meals is to go somewhere that has set menus (so you choose in advance from a selection and they are all the same price) and a cash bar. Then no arguments at all .... That's what we always did for Christmas at a very very argumentative company I once worked for.