Scroogey staff
A couple of years ago, I took my team out for an Xmas dinner on a Friday night at a nice restaurant near London Bridge. Everyone was warned beforehand that they would be expected to pay for their booze - there is a seperate Xmas lunch for all staff where the booze is thrown in (and up).

Much food was eaten and many jugs of vodka & champagne cocktails were drunk, as was everyone at the table.

At the end of the evening, as I was aware that we'd got a bit carried away with the cocktails and that some team members earn much less than others but drink more, I decided to pay for it myself (I was as happy baby orangutaned as the rest of them). There was 12 of us and it was around 100 quid a head including the copious booze.

All I asked was that they put their hands in the pockets (or wallets or purses) for the tip for the very friendly and understanding waitressing staff.

Next day at work, the Monday, I discovered that the total tip was a 'generous' 30 quid.

One person complained that she'd had to pay for a taxi, which she felt was unfair as she hadn't planned to drink so much in the first place and otherwise could have caught the tube.

Someone else complained that, being tee-total, the others had received preferential treatment (this same person had previously complained of discrimination when I brought back some liquor truffles for the staff after an overseas trip).

One person said Thank you.

Last year I packed the ungrateful watermeloners off to the local boozer with a tenner a head.
(SpittyWoonerism, Fri 17 Dec 2004, 16:56, Reply)