I don't want to join my colleagues for lunch, but I am an intern so joining is important for relationship building.
I don't know how they manage to have lunch everyday together but they do. Am I forced to join them in this situation?
-
5Does these lunch mean going out to a restaurant or grabing your lunch you brought from home and eating together in a table?– DarkCygnus ♦Commented May 20, 2019 at 18:32
-
2My colleagues eat out everyday, but I can't afford to do so even as a lead, because I have to budget to provide for my family and pay my mortgage. I recommend joining them for lunch once in a while for relationship building or even asking if people could get their lunch to-go and everyone eat in the office together.– jcmackCommented May 20, 2019 at 18:35
-
what is the reason you don't want to join them?– aaaaa says reinstate MonicaCommented May 21, 2019 at 0:23
-
1Is the lunch purely social, or is there important work stuff discussed which you would not otherwise find out (this is not uncommon)? If yes, see if you can come up with a regular schedule where you join them on days they tend to discuss work stuff.– smciCommented May 21, 2019 at 2:55
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
Am I forced to join them in this situation?
Absolutely not. You are not forced to eat lunch with them every day.
Yes, it is true that having lunch together strengthens the professional relationship, but you should do it when you feel like it (and when your budget allows for such).
Next time they invite you, and you are unable or don't want to go, politely thank them for the invitation and decline. No need to give lengthy explanations, or make up excuses.
answered May 20, 2019 at 18:30
-
Little late for the party, but one of my managers told me once never have lunch with the same people too often. Commented Apr 7, 2020 at 4:59
Why can you not join them? Is it a money or time issue?
If it is a money issue, then they will understand. They do not expect that an intern is paid at the same rate as they are, and cannot spend at the same rate. In this case make a budget and go out with them on set days. An example might be every Friday and every other Wednesday. You should be upfront about why you are doing this. There is nothing embarrassing about being financial responsible. On those days you do eat in the office join anyone that does the same and expand your horizons some.
If it is a time issue, then the same sort of thing applies. "Sorry guys, I can't make it today due to work on project X".
You can still build on the relationships on the times you actually do go to lunch.
