Friend persuades employee to let him use employee discount, protests when he bans him from letting others use it too: 'I'm not turning my employee account into a group coupon'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 15, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

Should the perks of the job apply to an employee's social circle?

For all the complaints about the working world, it does occasionally come with some benefits. Those companies that aren't too stingy acknowledge that a few perks can make their employees happier and maybe even more inclined to do a better job for them. If it's in the budget, it should be a no-brainer.

That being said, these kinds of arrangements have to operate with a certain level of trust. Somebody who exploits them unfairly could end up ruining it for everyone, or at the very least, getting in trouble themselves. Of course, employees are going to try to use their benefits to the maximum of their ability, but it is sensible to have some limits. Not only can employers be fickle, but other people can be inclined to use the worker so that they can make the most of their perks, too. It is yet another scenario where it is necessary to have firm boundaries and be careful who you share your goodwill with. There will always be a person who wants to take things too far and turn it into a bad thing instead.

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  • An employee sits at a table in a glass-walled room, working at his laptop.
    via Brock Wegner (Unsplash+)

    An employee sits at a table in a glass-walled room, working at his laptop. Licensed media provided as editorial context.
     

  • A friend requested to use an employee's discount to buy himself a jacket, and the employee was willing to let him save some money. However, things escalated, and he began to request to buy more and more items with the discount. 

    It soon transpired that he was trying to buy things for other friends and family using this workplace connection, and for the sake of his job, the employee felt like he had to put a stop to it. He felt bad for letting people down, but he wasn't sure if he had been wrong to uphold this boundary.

  • Am I wrong for cutting my friend off from my employee discount after he started using it for other people?

    I work for a company that gives us a pretty decent employee discount. A close friend asked me a while back if I could use it for a jacket he wanted, and I said sure. It saved him a good amount and I really didn't think much of it.
    via West_Opportunity_778
  • After that he started asking every few weeks. Shoes, another jacket, backpack. Still fine.
    via West_Opportunity_778
  • Then he sent me a list with like 7 items and I realized half of them weren't even for him. His girlfriend wanted something, his brother wanted shoes and apparently one of his coworkers had heard about the discount too.
    via West_Opportunity_778

  • He had taken things too far.

    I told him I'm not turning my employee account into a group coupon. He got annoyed and said I'm acting like it costs me something. Technically it doesn't, but our purchases can be reviewed and we're obviously not supposed to be buying stuff for random people.
    via West_Opportunity_778
  • The awkward part is he already told his brother I'd order something for him, so now he's saying I'm making him look stupid by suddenly changing my mind. I've been budgeting pretty hard lately and I understand wanting to save money wherever you can, which is why I helped him in the first place. I just feel like he took one favor and slowly turned it into something completely different.
    via West_Opportunity_778
  • He says if I was worried about getting in trouble I should've said that from the beginning instead of letting him use it several times first. AITA?
    via West_Opportunity_778
  • A man wearing a trilby strokes his beard while browsing in a clothing store.
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A man wearing a trilby strokes his beard while browsing in a clothing store. Stock photography for depiction only.

  • It had got to the point where it had to stop.

    Sufficient Song3387 You are telling him.no more now. That's all that matters. It's not a negotiation. He's not your friend if he is trying to guilt you to get his way. He should have said thank you and I'm sorry.
    via Sufficient_Song3387
  • SearchApprehensive35 You didn't "suddenly changed your mind." You never offered to buy stuff for third parties. Him presuming to offer your employee benefit, and presuming to put your job at risk, was entirely his doing. Looking stupid is the natural consequences of his stupid (and selfish) actions.
    via SearchApprehensive35
  • Emme42560 The discount is for the employee that's all
    via Emme42560

  • It was going against the rules.

    Useful-Actuary1458 NTA. I get helping out a friend or family member occasionally, but I'm sure your company has a policy that says the discount should only be used for you. Abusing that can absolutely get you in trouble. You shouldn't have to tell your friend something that is so obvious.
    via Useful-Actuary1458
  • He seems to care more about your employee discount than he does about you. He also seems a little too concerned about his brother's feelings. I can't help but wonder if he is actually selling this stuff on the side, and has maybe already taken the money for the items and that's why he is so upset.
    via Useful-Actuary1458
  • Beginning-Potato-617 NTA and using your discount like that can even get you fired at some places.
    via Beginning-Potato-617

  • It wasn't for him to assume.

    cooking_question "I didn't realize you thought using my employee discount meant I was buying for all your family and friends. I am not. You should have asked instead of assuming."
    via cooking_question
  • Panda-Head He broke the terms of the agreement, he's the a hole for trying to scam you for cheap stuff. He was probably doing the same thing right from the start.
    via Panda-Head
  • blippityblue72 NTA. People get fired for stuff like this all the time. Is he going to pay your rent when you're unemployed and can't get unemployment because you were committing fraud?
    via blippityblue72

  • He was misunderstanding the situation.

    fruitjerky "You should've said that from the beginning"?? Has he never had a job before?? Of course the employee discount being used around town can get you in trouble. What a moron.
    via fruitjerky

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