Taiwanese Workplace Etiquette: The Unexpected Controversy of the Restaurant Bill

When is it polite to leave the restaurant after a meal? A simple dining scenario sparks heated debate in Taiwan.

A recent discussion on a Taiwanese online forum has sparked a lively debate concerning workplace etiquette, specifically around the seemingly straightforward act of paying the bill after a meal. The question at the heart of the matter: Should colleagues wait inside the restaurant while their supervisor settles the bill?

The query originated from a user, identified as ばけらった, who shared their experience on the popular "Yomiuri Shimbun" readers' forum. During a business trip, ばけらった, along with their supervisor and another colleague, dined together. After the meal, the supervisor offered to cover the cost. ばけらった and their colleague proceeded to wait outside the establishment while the supervisor handled the payment. Upon returning to the office, however, they received an email from the supervisor criticizing their departure before the bill was settled, deeming it a sign of poor manners.

This unexpected rebuke left ばけらった and their colleague perplexed, as they had always considered waiting outside while the bill was being paid to be a demonstration of courtesy. The incident has ignited a conversation in Taiwan, prompting many to reconsider their own perceptions of workplace dining conduct.