Colleague insists woman get takeout with work team, protests when she refuses to pay $60 after making a $14 order: 'She said I never buy dinner for the crew'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 23, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Food is a surprisingly common reason for disputes in the workplace.

Whether somebody keeps stealing things from the breakroom fridge or a colleague rages at missing out on a free meal, there are all manner of problems that can arise on the topic, even when the work itself has nothing to do with food. What we eat in the workplace and how that happened can bring to the surface tensions and resentments that have been bubbling along in the background for quite some time.

This can be a shame, as one of the simplest ways to give a small morale boost or get to know our coworkers a little better is to take part in those classic office rituals of bringing in cake or participating in the infamous work pizza party. However, some people just refuse to conduct themselves properly in these kinds of scenarios, and this can have some unfortunate consequences.

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  • a person examines an UberEats receipt stuck to a brown paper bag
    via S O C I A L . C U T

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In this story, a woman was left feeling confused and upset after her coworker insisted that she join in ordering takeout with the rest of their team. She didn't want to spend the money, but this colleague insisted she should order whatever she wanted.

    A few days later, she was sent a $60 payment request, which the coworker claimed was her share of the order, although her meal had only cost $14 and she had already contributed to the tip. 

    Accusing her of never buying the team dinner despite frequently cooking for them, the woman maintained that she would only pay for her part of the order. She wanted to know if she was being unreasonable.

  • Am I wrong for not paying my coworker for dinner?

    So at my job, I work NOC shift (over night or graveyard is other names if you didn't know ☺) anyways there are always 4 of us on staff every night well one of my coworkers lets call her S offered to get dinner last week I said "no thank you I'm okay I shouldn't be spending the money" and she said "no it's okay, just get what ever you want"
    via Responsible-Review49
  • I was shocked and said "oh okay thank you" and I gave S some cash for the tip of the delivery driver. When when the food got here I said thank you and and we were all eating like normal. Well when I woke up this morning S has sent me a payment request for 60 dollars. I was shocked and text her and said "hey did I owe you money for something? If I do I don't remember can you remind me?" Because
    via Responsible-Review49
  • honestly I do have a really bad memory. She responded with "yeah it was for dinner last week" I was a little shocked and I was going to say what ever and give her the money for MY dinner ($14) and when I ignored the request and just sent my portion she got very upset. I
    via Responsible-Review49
  • a woman eats noodles at her desk at night, surrounded by piles of documents and her laptop
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • asked why she expected for me to pay for everyone's dinner since I had gave her my portion as well as 5 dollars cash as the tip (that was just my portion the other workers chipped in too)
    via Responsible-Review49
  • She said it's because I "never buy dinner for the crew" which I will say is true, we all have a love for Asian food and I really like to try new recipes and bring them in for us to have for dinner I do that at least 2 times a week. So no l don't buy dinner but I bring some in regular and share as well as send some home with my coworkers if there's enough to send with them.
    via Responsible-Review49
  • She told me I was selfish for not buying dinners more often. I told her I paid my portion and tip, I don't need to pay the rest of dinner. I also asked my other coworkers about if she asked them for money too and they said no. So AITA?
    via Responsible-Review49
  • a woman massages her neck at her desk, surrounded by piles of documents
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • QuickestDrawMcGraw DO NOT PAY. She set this up from the beginning, why else would she insist you order.
    via QuickestDrawMcGraw
  • Prestigious-Bluejay5 Never let others force you to spend money you don't have. Four managers would go out to lunch together. They invited me one day. When the bill came, I found out that they took turns paying with each of their company issued credit cards. One told me I should pay with mine since I never did. Nope. They eventually got found out and all were fired. I lived to tell the tale.
    via Prestigious-Bluejay5
  • Adelucas Report her to your manager. You paid your share. It's on her if she doesn't ask the others to cough up too. I work nights a lot and sometimes the others working nights but not in my department will phone down and say they are ordering, do I want anything. Or vice versa. We all pay our share and split the tip and delivery charge, no arguing. She's trying to flex, and make a point.
    via Adelucas
  • Stop bringing in food for other people, just bring food for yourself. If anyone says anything tell them to ask S. She is the one who spoiled it for everyone.
    via Adelucas
  • I learned decades ago never to split the bill, and never to buy rounds. I always spent a fortune compared to what I would spend on myself. I always ask the waiter for a separate check, and always say "nah I'm good" when someone asks me if I want a drink. If it's takeout I hand over how much it cost me including my share of the added charges, and truly don't care if someone gets butt hurt about it.
    via Adelucas
  • Mediocre Ant_437 Ignore her but if she pushed it the tell her that you had already stated that you needed to save money and you never agreed to pay for others so she can't just decide that.
    via Mediorce_Ant_437
  • Outrageous-Ad-9635 NTA You may not buy dinner for everyone, but you regularly provide it. You paid for your portion, so you're good.
    via Outrageous-Ad-9635
  • Effective-Several NTA. You had clearly told her you didn't have the money. But she decided to go ahead anyway and buy dinner, Plus she tried to charge you for it.
    via Effective-Several
  • you ever does this again in the future, then make sure there are other people around, and tell her very loudly and very clearly and very distinctly, that you do not want her to buy you supper, because you cannot afford it right now, and if she decides to buy everybody's supper anyway, then she needs to realize that you are never going to pay her back for that.
    via Effective-Several
  • Because she needs to be put on blast that she doesn't imply very strongly that she's treating you, and then she tries to charge you for the whole thing? She's insane.
    via Effective-Several
  • songwrtr Buying dinner for one another is a stupid idea that breeds this kind of discontent. I would unequivocally state that I no longer will provide or participate in this communal bread breaking ritual because of the actions of S.
    via songwrtr
  • Interesting Trip5979 Ignore her and move on. People like her are not worth your time.
    via InterestingTrip5979

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terrible coworkers aita employee work coworkers night shift workplace reddit thread Reddit money takeout entitled people
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