Evening Edge
What’s For Dinner?
Home > Feeding Frenzy > Archives > 2008 > March > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDoes anyone have “the boss” over for dinner anymore?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When writing about Chef Scott Peacock last week, I kept remembering his description of being a total TV junkie growing up. As a kid, sit-coms like The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy and the Brady Bunch provided his education and his inspiration for how to cook and entertain. It was the character’s panache that he adopted as his own, mimicking the fancy multi-course meals they served to company.
I loved those show and probably spent way too much time watching them too! I remember, in all these shows there was always an episode or two when the husband (of course, wives never worked back then) called to say he’s “bringing the boss home for dinner” unexpectedly. Inevitably, mayhem ensued, usually having to do with a dog eating the roast or a mishap involving lots of smoke.
I started wondering. No one I talk to ever has “The Boss” over for dinner these days. It used to be the standard ploy for the worker-bee to present their perfect family and perfect meal to impress their boss and advance their career.
Obviously most spouses aren’t at home ready to throw together a four-course dinner at a moments notice. But even with planning it seems like an obsolete ritual. I’m not sure what’s changed. Is everyone too busy? Are there are too many rules about “fraternizing”?
What do you think? Do you ever entertain your or your spouse’s supervisor? Would you want to? You can speak freely here, unlike Cheers (another favorite show of mine) no one knows you here!!
Comments
By kara
March 19, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
My husband and I both work. In his case we don’t like his boss and don’t have time to socialize with people we DO like. So no to him. My boss is a friend, now, and so we do eat at each other’s homes.
But I would say no one does it any longer for work or advancement. people only do it because they want to.
By ron
March 20, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
The boss over for dinner?That’s a joke, right?
By Pink Sherbert
March 20, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Actually my boss invited me and my family over for dinner at his house. It was great! He is a pretty traditional southern gentleman….and we are from California. I was a bit uncomfortable at the start, he and his wife made us feel welcome. And our kids played together nicely. But then again, I enjoy working for my boss.
By One
March 20, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
Only if I’m serving cyanide casserole!!!
By Theresa
March 20, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Hey Jeanne — It’s Theresa from MOMania - We actually have had my husband’s boss over for dinner — We had his boss and two of his colleauges who were all visiting from out of town last fall. I have three kids including a baby that was about 6 months old then. I made Southern food — ribs, cornbread, rice, beans in a vinagrette and then peanut butter pie for desert from the Master’s Cookbook — Everything was going pretty well until I needed to nurse the baby right before serving. I left the ribs and the bread in the oven to stay warm and it ended up burning hte bread and drying out the ribs — i was so embarrassed. We did end on a high note though - the pie was perfect.
By Mike In Woodstock
March 20, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Seriously? I really thought that this went out in the 1950’s.
By The truth
March 20, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
I’ve never had a boss over for dinner. It’s too awkward unless your boss is a friend. I’ve hung out with a boss or two on the weekend but it gets really weird after a while. I work with these people all week long and don’t really want to spend time with them that I don’t need to.
By Becky
March 20, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
I’ve never had the boss over to my house for dinner, but have been to his house for lunch a few times..Our company is fairly small & we all get along well, so it’s not that uncommon here..Have been to several concerts, dinners, & plays with him (& wife) over the last 20 years..He’s a very nice,laid back guy & fun to be around..
By Are you kidding me?
March 20, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
I would consider having some bosses from previous companies where I’ve worked over for dinner. But where I work now, the people running the company are like vipers. (And that’s an insult to vipers.) Now, the brown-nosers, flatterers and other assorted sycophants are always having the chief vipers over or inviting them to parties and the like. I’m sorry, my personal time is precious and I want to spend it with quality people who have heart, not people whose main quality is to be heartless.
By slim
March 20, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Truth is right. Unless the boss is a friend that goes back a long way, it’s probably not a good idea. You could very easily let your guard down and say something that could have very negative repercussions for your career.
I’m not really big into the whole ‘hey! let’s all collect some money and get the boss a gift!’ type of things. The boss makes a lot more money than me, and can lay me off anytime. What say we keep our money and give him/her a hearty congrats instead?
By Maybe Lunch
March 20, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
I agree with the previous blogger being that I spend enough time with coworkers during the week, so why after work. I try to keep work socials during business hours and leave my personal time for what it is, personal time. We have so little of personal time anyway. My boss takes us to lunch often and this is works well with getting everyone together for a fun visit. I also don’t work for a company that is social, so this plays into reason too. Sometimes it is not best to let the boss or co-workers see too much of your personal side. I prefer to keep my work relationships professional, but friendly as work relationships tend to fall into a category of their own.
By Mike
March 20, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
I associate this most with “Bewitched.” Larry Tate would frequently expect Samantha to entertain him, Louise, and clients on short notice. You’d think that Darren was the only employee he had. And maybe it was the 1960s white collar New York mindset, but to me Larry drank a LOT.
I don’t socialize with co-workers much outside of work, so it would seem strange to have my boss over for dinner. But I get along with everyone in my hierarchy and would probably have a nice evening.
By dino
March 20, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
seeing that half of the women i work with are backstabbing bi*, no i would not have them nor my boss over for dinner
By MNM
March 20, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I’ve been to my boss’ house, and been to eat with him and his wife. He even helped me move the last time. While my house was under construction, he would swing by to make sure nothing was awry. (I’m a single woman in a state far from friends and family.) I’m also friends with his wife, and she and I have gone to several concerts together. The boss and I work for a large company in a mostly male environment. He is a cool guy, and it is rare to meet someone who is nice and looks out for his employees without being sleazy.
By Corrina Kendall
March 20, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
My current boss – yes. I would invite to dinner.
My previous boss – OH HELL NO. He was/is the ultimate snake. This idiot would take credit for your ideals, blame his mistakes on everyone else, and showed a total disregard for his employees. Although we were a small group – only nine - not one of his employees respected hm. The ONLY way I would invite that clown over for dinner is if I could poison him. Then again, why waste the poison. I’m sure he’s going to hell.
By ally
March 20, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
I invited my boss over for dinner and dessert, but my husband was not home. I got a great review and a promotion after that evening ;)
By Honey
March 20, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
That is so “Leave it to Beaver” to have your Boss over for dinner…i can’t imagine anyone still doing that..nope i never have & never will!
By The Boss
March 20, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
I don’t socialize with staff. It’s not appropriate now, nor was it in the past.
By Van
March 20, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
I have dinner with the boss every night. My wife.
By Katie
March 21, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this
Um, no. I would not have my boss over for dinner. I see coworkers enough at work, I don’t really want to socialize with them on ‘my’ time. I like my boss just fine though.
By lovelyliz
March 21, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this
I don’t think the boss knows who I am. In any case, he’s not one to hang with the little people.
By T
March 28, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
I don’t think I would. Although my husbands co workers ofter have my boss over for diner and we are also invited, so I am involved in that scenerio in a really weird way.