Working through lunch

As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, especially when it comes to business lunches. On these occasions, while your meal may ostensibly come ‘gratis’, your table manners, drinking etiquette and whether you drop spaghetti down your top will all be scrutinised, and could potentially go against you in terms of garnering employment or further business.

Pamela Fay is managing director of Business Performance Perspectives, a company specialising in business etiquette training and performance management.

Each year she conducts a survey on manners, and the results relating to food etiquette and business dining are fascinating.

“Our most recent survey reveals that 98pc of respondents believe table manners are important in Irish business,” she explains. “Another survey, conducted in 2007 by Berry Bros & Rudd in the UK, revealed that some 15pc of people would actually pull out of a business deal if they had a bad business lunch experience. In addition, for 67pc of respondents, getting drunk at a business lunch is the biggest faux pas that can be made. A further 41pc said they would have doubts about a person’s professional ability if they behaved improperly at lunch.”

Clearly then, navigating the manners minefield is key when dining for business.

“The first thing to do is be punctual,” explains Fay. The next priority, she says, is to turn off your mobile phone.

In terms of what to eat or drink, Fay recommends following your host.

“If your host decides not to drink, then neither should you, but if they are having a glass of wine, then it’s perfectly acceptable for you to have one too. However, at a business lunch, limit your alcohol intake to two drinks.”

Follow your host’s lead when it comes to the menu also: if they decide to go for the starter, then you can do likewise. However, she strongly advises against ordering the most expensive dish. “Pick something moderately priced, and don’t order anything you don’t know how to eat or that will be messy.”

Another rule of thumb includes not becoming overly familiar (ie by getting drunk, using coarse language or being too personal) at the lunch. “You’re still in a work situation. Of course, you can relax somewhat, and the type of lunch will dictate the tone. But you always need to watch yourself because, even in this atmosphere, people will still be making judgements about you.”

And, finally, what about money? Generally, according to Fay, whoever offers the invitation to lunch, pays. But what if you are the invited guest? Should you suggest paying — even as a gesture?

“If the invitation has been clearly and formally made, I wouldn’t,” explains Fay. “I would express my thanks and if it is appropriate I would reciprocate by inviting them out within the next two to three months. However, if the invitation was a more casual ‘let’s meet for lunch’, then I would make the offer to pay. It is really about the formality of the situation and using your judgement,” she says.

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- Bernice Mulligan

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