Why..WHY do people do this?

It sucks. We ended up handing out plates and stamping hands. For grown ups.

That is such bullsh1t. I hate when people feel they are entitled to eat at a potluck they did not participate in. I think the sign up sheet needs to somehow specify that if you would like to participate, sign up, if you would prefer to provide your own lunch that day, that's fine, too. (or something). That takes a lot of balls.

I've seen things like this happen, like a family of 5 brings only one 8" x 8" thing of brownies, but takes away 6 plates of food. I think you should contribute as much as you take, IMO.

I'm flabbergasted. We do a huge Thanksgiving potluck at school each year and don't have any of the problems you all describe. Everyone brings way too much food. There is usually food left over even after everyone has stuffed their faces.

Same at the last two places I've worked, too.

Ours aren't too bad, but I can't stand the huge table full of bags of chips.

I think the organizers have started a sign up sheet that says we only need X amount of chips. If X amount have already signed up for chips, then you need to sign up for something different.

Mary K

We used to have potlucks at my office and it seemed that the part timers always brought something to share, and full timers (well, the men, mostly)never brought anything, but were first in line when it was time to eat.

I frustrated me that the people with the bigger paychecks had no problem mooching off the people with the smaller paychecks.

I don't do potlucks unless I know EVERYONE and their kitchens! at the pool a couple of summers ago, my friend had a couple of homemade cookies on her plate and when she took a bite I could see the bottom - it was COVERED in cat hair. so gross, but I'm cracking up now just remembering it. we have no idea who made the cat hair cookies but it's a long running joke now.

we have a weekly potluck at the pool (it's a small, neighborhood swim club where about 20 families are very tight friends) and the rule is you bring your own meat for the grill, for your family, and a side dish or two. one woman, every week without fail, brings in something like a small dish of plain rice, or one can of baked beans. she proceeds to be the first person in line, with her two kids, and decimates half of everything there. it cracks me up every week because the pot luckers get so frustrated and continue to try to figure out how to stop her. I keep telling them to just stop potlucking and just have their own family cookout NEXT to their friends, basically to stop putting their food out for "all". maybe they are nicer than me, but I would just confront the woman and tell her that she brings a can of beans and takes enough food to feed 6 people.

Why doesn't the person/group in charge make a nice sign that reminds people that only those who brought in should take. It can be said in a nice way. We used to do this when I taught and YES it is amazing how adults feel they are entitled even when they did not bring in. It's pretty repulsive if you ask me.

Used to happen every single time at my last company. Most of the time, it was the Partners that didn't bring anything. It would drive me insane.

We do potlucks at work at it amazes me each and every time how something that seems so simple, can be made into something so complicated. We actually got to where we do specific potlucks and assign people who want to participate a specific item and it still gets fouled up by people. Yesterday we were doing a Nacho bar and the person that was supposed to bring onions brought in enough chopped onion for maybe three helpings, the person bringing jalapenos brought in whole jalapenos. Umm, do you see a kitchen and cutlery anywhere to cut these things up...NO? Then bring them in already prepared. Makes me nuts.

The pilgrims and the Indians managed to pull off a successful potluck and they didn't even speak the same language. It really shouldn't be that complicated.

It's ridiculous that there are situations that require telling supposedly responsible adults how to behave at an event like your company potluck. But that's exactly what needs to happen. The company should put out a list of "rules" (expectations really - but some people you have to hit over the head with the proverbial two-by-four) ahead of time and then "enforce" them for the next potluck. That's the only hope for reining in some of the bad behavior.

We have about 30 people, about 10 usually bring dishes. If you want to eat, cook or buy something. But don't expect the rest of your co-workers who are working the same hours as you are to go home and prepare a dish for you when you don't give back.

Unbelievable. At my company, it is always the same people that sign up for chips or liters of soda. Please, it probably costs me at $20 to make a main dish for the group. And you think your $2 contribution is ok?

Then, the MEN who don't participate come in for the leftovers. Oh no, as soon as our group has eaten, I clean up my leftovers and put them in the refrigerator to take home.