Out-of-Pocket

The department head announces a mandatory team-building retreat scheduled for the upcoming weekend at an expensive mountain resort, noting that employees will need to pay for their own dinners and evening activities. When Jordan, a junior associate supporting an extended family, quietly mentions that the out-of-pocket costs are difficult to manage right now, the department head laughs and says, "Oh come on, Jordan, it’s just a couple hundred bucks to bond with the team, don't be a party pooper." Jordan looks embarrassed and drops their head as the rest of the room remains silent.