Life Advice

/

Health

Fast-food meal isn't so happy for co-workers

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Amy: I get along with a male co-worker fairly well, and we go out to lunch at least twice a week.

I have never thought anything of it past a mutual work relationship. He's 12 years older than I am. I am married, and he has been with his significant other for almost nine years.

There is a fast-food spot we go to often that we both love. The girls who work there know us and are quite friendly.

The other day I went there by myself and one of the girls asked where my "boyfriend" was.

I made it clear to her that he is just a co-worker, and she told me that he refers to me as his "girlfriend." She said that since he always pays, she figured he was my boyfriend.

He expenses all of our meals; our company allows anyone who is salaried to expense one meal a day under $15, so he's technically NOT paying for me!

 

How can I confront him about this without causing any trouble in the office?

-- Upset

Dear Upset: You should consider laughing about this. This option does not seem to have occurred to you.

Your colleague is not technically paying for your lunch (the company is), but how is the server supposed to know this? And is it possible that your colleague referred to you as his "girlfriend" because you are a woman, and also a friend?

...continued

swipe to next page

 

 

Comics

Luann Marshall Ramsey Dave Granlund Michael Ramirez Barney & Clyde The Fortune Teller