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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 20, 2014 21:22:48 GMT
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. That's what I don't understand either, it's not that difficult, but it always seems a mess at some point!! |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:32:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2014 21:26:12 GMT
Wow. You're her manager, not her mother.
I think it's totally rude of people to eat when they do not contribute, but I also think it's crossing a line to single someone out like that.
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Post by padresfan619 on Nov 20, 2014 21:40:21 GMT
Another reason I'm happy to work from home.
My husband goes to a monthly bonfire/cook out with friends and I stopped going with him. This one same guy would always show up empty handed and be the first in line to get food. I don't understand how people even have the nerve to do that when everyone else spends their hard earned money on food and drinks.
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Aug 18, 2025 21:32:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2014 21:49:33 GMT
How rude. Sorry you had to experience that.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2014 21:52:38 GMT
Up until last year we used to do a Christmas breakfast potluck that "us women" would make for our techs. The year before a couple of the women (from an across town office) got bent out of shape because they were not invited, so last year we invited them and they quickly snubbed their nose at us. Walked in, looked around and left. Bitches.
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Post by PEArfect on Nov 20, 2014 22:02:37 GMT
Next year I wouldn't participate in bringing in anything, or eating. I would pack a lunch of my own and socialize.
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Post by eebud on Nov 20, 2014 22:02:20 GMT
Back when I worked in an office where we had a Thanksgiving and Christmas potluck, it always turned out fine. Everyone participated or gave money or didn't eat. Sometimes, after everyone was done and the conference room still had lots of food, we would tell people who didn't participate to go fix something. Some did, some didn't. But, they didn't get anything until everyone was done and the food was sitting, waiting to be cleaned up. We were a group of mostly young people (the majority in their 20's to mid-30's) and about half male and half female. Out sign up lists had a certain number of signups for different items to make sure we had a good mix of food.
I haven't participated in any sort of potluck in many years and not sure that I ever want to again. LOL The main reason I don't want to has more to do with all of the huge meals that are eaten around the holidays. I have enough huge meals with family and friends without adding work into the mix too.
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Post by Lexica on Nov 20, 2014 22:14:42 GMT
I'm not a big fan of potlucks among work members for so many of the above reasons. The rudeness is just shocking. Whenever there has been a potluck that I'm to participate in, I always bring some type of main dish because I know those are the most scarce. After witnessing the first potluck at my last company, I watched the younger guys who didn't bring anything, but filled their plates. So, for the next potluck, I went to each of these younger guys and offered to let them "go in with me" on my entree dish. I collected money from all of the young guys, added my own and made a triple portion of whatever entree, or sometimes a couple different types of entrees.
I know some of them just don't know how to cook, but that's not stopping them from hitting up a favorite restaurant to pick up a tray of something. I've been around long enough not to put up with that crap. And since I wasn't the one putting everything together, I didn't feel it out of place for me to approach these guys to offer my "help" to them. And truly, I love to cook. I used to bring in homemade desserts all the time near a holiday when I was testing out new recipes. Not for any potluck event, but just so that I didn't end up eating everything myself. It was much nicer to make something, take one or two for myself and get rid of the rest at work.
There was one time I was really taken by surprise at what happened. I went all out and made my time-consuming lasagna recipe. I didn't ask anyone to chip in for that one because I had been craving it and wanted any leftovers. I carefully packed up my leftovers and put them in our refrigerator. When I went to leave, no leftovers. Someone stole them out of the refrigerator! That taught me to take my portion out and leave it at home! This was a small office of only about 20 people. And I was able to clear anyone standing in the kitchen with me pulling their stuff out to take home. I eventually found out who took it. I blasted him for stealing. He said it was the best he ever had and he wanted to take some to his wife. Then why not ask for 2 servings instead of taking the whole thing? Punk kid.
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Post by stingfan on Nov 20, 2014 22:35:38 GMT
I think part of the problem here was that the company supplied the turkey and the ham. So then everyone felt entitled to eat.
Sounds like they also need to monitor portion sizes until everyone has gone through the line.
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Nov 20, 2014 22:41:21 GMT
I love my work pot lucks. We're hhaving one tomorrow and then again in Dec. I haven't seen anyone taking more than one plate at a time and being greedy and I haven't seen any moochers who didn't bring a dish to share. And it's all really good food too. Im the slacker bringing sodas this time but there was already a ton of food signed up for and no drinks so I took the opportunity. We gotta have drinks too. And I bought plenty.  |
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Nov 20, 2014 22:55:48 GMT
I went to a crop where this happened! It was for charity - all the food was donated by local businesses. It was held in a school, so basically your entrance fee went to charity, you were not paying for food or drinks. You should have seen these women run up to that food line and fill their plate like it was the last meal they were ever going to eat. Sickening.
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Post by CarolT on Nov 20, 2014 23:56:56 GMT
Dh's company started doing catered holiday meals for this very reason.
In my office, one of our secretaries is the organizer... she collects $$ from the non-cooks and uses that to buy things like drinks, paper goods, and anything she thinks we're short on. The bosses generally provide the main dishes, and there is a sign up sheet for sides and desserts.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 21, 2014 0:14:23 GMT
We used to have pot luck lunches at work that were for a few grade levels. Subs would walk in and help themselves (thinking that was okay without asking first). Oftentimes food was limited and the last lunch eaters got very little. We even put up signs and I know a few were aware of the situation but still ate anyway. Sometimes I just don't get people.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 21, 2014 0:22:33 GMT
I went to a crop where this happened! It was for charity - all the food was donated by local businesses. It was held in a school, so basically your entrance fee went to charity, you were not paying for food or drinks. You should have seen these women run up to that food line and fill their plate like it was the last meal they were ever going to eat. Sickening. I've been to crops like this too  |
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Nov 21, 2014 0:34:00 GMT
For our church potlucks, there's usually a sign-up sheet stating what all needs to be brought and how much (3 people need to bring 2 dozen rolls each, etc). So when we sign up to come, we write our name next to what we want to bring.
That usually works out well, (everyone is invited whether they bring food or not, but there's always enough), but when we had a choir potluck, it was just "bring whatever you want to share". Which means there were salads, beans, potatoes, chips, and dessert. Not much if any protein/main dish stuff. By the time DH and I went through, I just got a little taste of a couple things. I think we stopped at burger king on the way home. If there is a next time, I'll have to suggest an actual sign-up list.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:32:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2014 0:35:40 GMT
People are greedy. I have a coworker who rarely brings anything to our office potlucks. Yet every time she will bring tupperware containers and pack to go boxes to take home to her kids and husband. WTH? She even did it at a catered holiday party shared with other units.
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Post by peanuttle on Nov 21, 2014 0:39:55 GMT
Yep, we had the same thing today. Each department was assigned a type of dish to bring (i.e. Customer Service: Mashed Potatoes, HR: Gravy, etc) and the company supplied the turkey. We had tons of gravy, hardly any potatoes, etc. Like you said, though, everyone was ready to eat when it was time.
Some people have no shame! I would never eat if I did not bring anything.
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Post by monicad on Nov 21, 2014 2:03:44 GMT
Makes you wonder, doesn't it? There's no way I'd partake if I didn't contribute.
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Nanner
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Post by Nanner on Nov 21, 2014 2:04:31 GMT
It's that entitlement thing.
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Post by jenjie on Nov 21, 2014 2:07:25 GMT
For a Thanksgiving potluck, you need to get into the Pilgrim spirit. make a printout of Captain John Smith with a speech bubble - "he that does not contribute, neither shall he eat." LOL
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 21, 2014 2:58:30 GMT
My son's company did one on Tuesday. He said they were still eating leftovers today. The partners provided a turkey, ham, etc. and the employees brought the sides and dessert. I made two batches of pralines for him to take. He is very popular now.  Sorry yours didn't go as well. Someone needs to step up next time and lay out the rules.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2014 15:15:59 GMT
Once I was the organizer of a nacho/taco meal for about 15 couples in a church sunday school class years ago. Everyone signed up for something and I brought the main crockpot full of meat which should have been more than plenty with leftovers.
One couple who was signed up and was supposed to bring something "forgot" but still managed to eat and be first in line! Everyone took so much that by the time I was able to get through the line last to eat, there was literally nothing left because people had taken so much. DH and I had to stop and get lunch on the way home!
Last time I have ever organized. But I must say we had a women's event at church a few weeks ago and had an overabundance of food. I do think gender does play a role, as does age.
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Sorry yours didn't go as well. Someone needs to step up next time and lay out the rules.