Free lunch with a co-worker - How comfortable are you receiving such?

There used to be this guy in my company, he was married but kept inviting new female employees out to lunch and insisted on paying. This way they felt obligated to return the favor and invite him on a lunch out. He seemed to hope that things would develop from there. I made the mistake to go with him not knowing that this was a habit of his and that he was expecting more of the 'friendship' to develop. Never mind that I, too, was married. I was just eager to meet new co-workers and build work relationships. It became really creepy and he turned up at my desk hinting that I still owe him a lunch (not in direct words but all the same). I finally went out with him to lunch again making sure that oh what surprise, the whole group sat at the next table. I paid for his lunch 'since he had come thinking it was my treat', lol. He still tried to get me to go out with him again and followed me around. Really creepy. That was until I got pregnant. I guess I finally was officially off the market for him. The wedding ring and my husbands picture must have just been for show, lol. Not saying that you can't have fun with male co-workers. Just have to be sure they don't want more (unless you want that, lol).

There are occasional times in our office where one of the senior or long time staff members will take the junior or newer staff members out for lunch. That's actually pretty normal. And a lot of my co-workers will also go to lunch as a group (or they used to, before a couple left the company), and they take turns paying. You can always offer to take him to lunch at a later date if that would make you more comfortable with it.

we often receive free lunches from our workmates, usually a treat is given to a group of people, our department, or others when there are promotions, when a person gets regularized after a promotion. :) it is okay actually, cause we all have had our share of giving treats to our co workers. :)

I realize it may depend on your position in the company, but I wouldn't do it in the past and wouldn't do it now. The reason don't want the other person to expect favors from me in the future. Its important to me that people know I'm getting ahead by working hard not using somebody else in the company.

I'd feel a bit uncomfortable about it at first, but most people continue to insist on paying for the meal so I'd eventually drop it and just move on. There isn't much you can do when someone really decides they are going to pay for your meal.

There is nothing wrong with receiving a free lunch. My supervisor is always treating me to breakfast and sometimes lunch, and yes I do recipricate. But there is no problem with it to me.

Yeah absolutely, i dont have any probs, if its a freindly invite, for one or two times. But i wouldnt accept it, if it really goes any further, sure it does make me uncomfortable and the next time, i ll make sure, he is not gonna pay...