Public Relations and Lunch

Posted September 9, 2007 by Margie Zable Fisher

A friend of mine recently asked me to meet with him to discuss his new business. I replied that I would be happy to meet with him. He e-mailed me back, “Ok - it’s your treat this time.”

Now, I’ve known this person for years, but I was still annoyed. Didn’t he know that if you ask someone to lunch, you are responsible for paying for it?

Then I realized: I guess not. And maybe other people don’t, either.

So, here’s the official rule: if you ask someone out to lunch, for whatever reason, it’s your treat. If the other person insists on paying for whatever reason, that’s ok, but no one should be expected to pay if they don’t do the inviting.