Alright, so I work with 2 other women in a small office. One of the girls (who I am good friends with) had to be at work at 6:30 this morning. I felt bad, so I went to get her coffee and donuts on my way to work. I was going to get something for the other girl too, but I didn't know what she liked, and I forgot my cell phone at home so I couldn't call her. Anyways, she felt really left out and got mad at me for this.
What else could I have done?
2006-09-21 01:38:13 · 19 answers · asked by misscongeniality711 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It would have been a nice gesture to "take a risk" and get her a cup of coffee too. Even if she didn't want it, she would still have been touched at your thoughtfulness. Sometimes it's better to think of the "bigger picture" (i.e., I'll treat both women) rather than get hung up on the details (i.e., I don't know what she drinks). After all, if she didn't want the coffee, you could have kept it for yourself. When you work in a small office, you need to tread carefully because it's easy for your office mates to feel slighted.
2006-09-21 01:45:53 · answer #1 · answered by cheyennetomahawk 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a pretty small office, so you could have just gotten a variety box of donuts and places around here offer the large containers of coffee, you could have gotten one of those or individual plain coffees and condiments (creamer, sugar, etc.) to be added to taste.
I work in a fairly small office also, and started this kind of spontaneous "tradition" once when I was having a bad day - I wanted some ice cream, so I bought something from a nearby store for us all. Then, when others were having a bad day, or knew someone else in the office was, they would do the same. It did wonders to boost morale!
2006-09-21 08:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by JenV 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you could have done was buy at least three different donuts. This way there could have been something she liked. I think the next time you do that try getting chocolate chip muffins, everyone loves a good muffin. Don't feel too badly, your heart was in the right place.
2006-09-21 10:01:21 · answer #3 · answered by Lov'n IT! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have bought the coffee. Nothing different there except what you put in it and just bring the packets of sugar and creamer. I would have bought a donut of the same kind you brought for the other friend.
2006-09-22 00:50:49 · answer #4 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't cater to everyone, so you did nothing wrong. You can't please all the people...If this happens again, get her a plain donut with a regular coffee (let her fix the coffee the way she likes). If she likes neither, that will be her prerogative because you will have tried (the thought that counts). More for you two!
2006-09-21 08:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by Etienne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have bought her something too. If she wouldn't have liked it that's fine, it's the thought that counts. You and the other colleague could have eaten it up and the third one wouldn't have felt left out. Showing up with something for just the two of you is not very nice, you could have brought her something too, even without knowing what she likes.
2006-09-21 08:45:40 · answer #6 · answered by undir 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thats a small office I would have bought a box of Joe from D+D and some bagels that way no one was left out.
2006-09-21 10:53:35 · answer #7 · answered by tazachusetts 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have bought her coffee and donuts too. Even if she didn't like them, she would not have felt left out.
2006-09-21 08:41:51 · answer #8 · answered by tnspacelady 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You could have made a judgement call and got her something anyway (of you'r pick) and if she didn't like it then it was just too bad at least you offered and it wouldn't have made you look bad it would have been on her.
2006-09-21 08:48:10 · answer #9 · answered by nosey girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just a simple coffee would have done fine
2006-09-21 09:13:38 · answer #10 · answered by Gez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋