Do a Group Check Right After Lunch to Avoid Harboring Early Departures
Calculating the bill after a group dinner is difficult enough to not cover those who left early and accidentally miscalculated their debt. Pay the lunch bill when they leave so you don’t have to awkwardly ask them for money later or overpay at the end of the night to cover it.
This has happened to me before, especially when those who need to leave early pay in cash, rather than using services like Venmo or PayPal, where you can “charge” someone the exact amount. Even with a service like this, you end up covering up for someone until they give you back the money.
Of course, most people don’t want to limit you to their part of the bill, but forgetting to add tax or tip (or not add enough) is an easy mistake. Rather than discovering it later, just ask the waiter to pay the bill when your friend has to leave. Anyone who stays behind to chat can open another drinks tab.
Colleagues did not leave enough money in the account after the group lunch | Ask the manager