Not Letting It Rest-aurant
My manager put me in charge of a team dinner at [Restaurant #1]. Shortly after the invite went out, [Coworker] came to my desk.
Me: “Hey, what’s —”
Coworker: “You picked [Restaurant #1]?”
Me: “[Manager] did, yeah.”
Coworker: “[Restaurant #2] is better.”
Me: *Shrugs.* “To each his own, I guess.”
Coworker: “You should change it.”
Me: “Um… No, that’s what [Manager] picked.”
Coworker: “[Restaurant #2] is better. That’s where we should eat.”
Me: “They can’t accommodate our group.”
Coworker: “So? Invite fewer people.”
Me: “Look. I have work to do. The meal is at [Restaurant #1]. If you don’t like it, don’t go.”
Coworker: *As he’s walking away.* “…b****.”
Two days later, he comes back to me.
Coworker: “So, I talked to [Manager] and he said he wants [Restaurant #2].”
Me: “When?”
Coworker: “This morning.”
Me: “Okay.”
Coworker: “So you’re gonna change it?”
Me: “After I confirm with [Manager].”
Coworker: “I just told you that’s what he said!”
Me: “Then there’s no issue with me double-checking.”
Coworker: “So, you don’t believe me. You think I’m lying.”
Me: “If [Manager] says he wants it changed, I will change it. But not until I hear it directly from him.”
Coworker: “Jesus Christ, it’s like you’re committed to being r*****ed.”
Me: “Go away, [Coworker].”
Coworker: “No. You are not my boss, and I’m not—”
Me: “Then you can sit here and watch me tell HR how you’ve been acting.”
Coworker: *Glares and leaves.*
I spoke with my manager, and he confirmed that not only did he *not* want to change the restaurant, he actually hates [Restaurant #2] and would rather have no dinner at all than go there. He also said he would have a word with [Coworker] about integrity and honesty in the workplace.
The day of the meal comes, and at least half of the people who said they were coming are not there. [Manager] is questioning me when my phone rings.
Me: “Hello?”
Coworker: “Hey, we’re here. Where are you?”
Me: “Um… we’re also here. Where are you?”
Coworker: “At [Restaurant #2] with [people who are missing].”
Me: “Why? We’re at [Restaurant #1].”
Coworker: “I told you to change it to [Restaurant #2]!”
Me: “And I told you that [Manager] picked [Restaurant #1].”
At the mention of his name, [Manager] motions for me to hand over the phone. I do so, and before [Manager] can speak, [Coworker] starts going off again. I see [Manager]’s face go from confused to shocked to irritated.
Manager: “Well, [Coworker], since you decided to tell people that the venue had changed, you can pay for their meals.”
He ends the call and returns my phone.
Manager: “Do not let him expense anything from tonight.”
Me: “Okay.”
The next day, [Coworker] tried to tell everyone that I had lied and sent him to the wrong restaurant on purpose. My complaint to HR also got him in a heap of trouble; apparently, he has a history of “bending the truth” to get his way.
He was put on a week-long unpaid leave of absence. When his week was up, he did not return and could not be reached. [Manager] wrote this off as job abandonment.