Comment by mykowebhn
2 days ago
I initially worked in Canada where it wouldn't be uncommon to go out for a work lunch and order a beer.
When I got a new job in the US, my boss took me and several coworkers to a restaurant for lunch as a way to welcome me. When the waitress asked what I wanted to drink I asked for a beer. I then heard one of my coworkers who was sitting next to me ask me incredulously, "What are you doing?" I responded that I was ordering a beer. He said that I could get fired for that. That's when I realized that for a country that seemed so similar to Canada on the surface it was quite different below that surface.
Many companies and cultures in the US are fine with a drink or two at lunch. What industry was this company in?
Good to know. This was in suburban Chicago, Naperville, IL to be exact, during the 90s. The industry was Telecomm. Maybe it was a more conservative area compared with the Bay Area or Boston.
It’s usually best if the manager/more senior employees order first and sets the tone for “is this a beer friendly lunch”. Definitely don’t make the new guy order first and guess
had plenty of drinking lunches w/ US companies. the current (Canadian) company I'm at is quite strict about drinking -- would likely be fireable.
the Aussies would have been disappointed if I only had one...
It's common to order a beer at work lunch in the US too.
Though I have worked at places if the company was paying for the lunch they won't pay for alcohol. In those cases we've always asked for the beers to be on a separate check so the expense report is easier.