Taking food to work to share with others?

Question

I work in a call center and I'm floor support. This means that I interact with a lot of people everyday. I like to bake and make candy for people, but not everyone. I took some food for my team one day and the next day I took some for a group of folks who are in some intensive development. A lot of people at work decided that I had slighted them by not bringing them food and asked me to bring them some. I don't know if they are just comfortable with me and so they think they don't have to have manners or what, but I've become overwhelmed by the demands that I have enough for everyone. It is not unusual for a few people to share food amongst themselves and everyone else doesn't demand it.

I may be too sensitive, but I need to know if it has become acceptable to assume you are included? I would not DREAM of asking for something. I would wait for someone to offer. Even with people I am very close to, I wait for the offer.

There are over 1,000 employees in my call center. I have interaction with about 250 of them daily. Usually the same 250. I try to accomodate about 25 at a time (one team). Monday I took in enough stuff for 75 people. These are homemade items I bake or make myself with quality ingredients. Due to expense and time, I can't take it for everyone at once. If I were a phone rep and not a floor supervisor, I'd interact with about 20 folks a day and they would be the same people. It would be totally acceptable for me to share with just this group. My position doesn't allow that. I do try to fit everyone in, just not all at one time.

Answer 1

Well you could be tactful and just say that you make goodies for your immediate team to help motivate them. Then kinda joking say, I don;t have the money to feed the whole call center. This may hit home. Its not your job to feed the whole call center and its rude for someone that is not on your team to act insulted. I am a supervisor myself and well there are some that if you give them an inch they take a mile. I am like you, I would never just barge in and take food unless I was offered or invited.

Answer 2

Unfortunately the social graces are on the decline. I wouldn't ask anyone either, I would wait until it was offered. So now you either have to stay up late making goodies or don't take any at all I guess. OR, you could make a certain amount and put it in a central location where everyone has equal access if there is such a place at your work site.
I like to make things and cook for folks too so I know how you feel.

Answer 3

I agree with the other posters. Those who ask or make demands of you for food are out of line.

Perhaps you could ask suggest to your supervisor that the office have a potluck luncheon. I don't know how big your office is, and maybe there are too many people for that to happen, but it could be a way to get people off your back - and set the expectation that if they want to eat other people's food - they need to bring something to share too.

At my last job, we regularly scheduled a potluck 4 times a year. We did this for a couple of reasons: we had a high turnover of employees - it was a good way for people to get to know each other, and, it got the moochers off the backs of people who liked to bring goodies in for just their work group.

Answer 4

I think they are taking advantage of you if you say that other people have done the same and it was not expected FOR THEM to share with everyone. (Your food must be really good for them to be fighting for it, ha ha!) They might even be just joking, like "GOSH, why didn't you bring us any??" I would just laugh and say "OH Gosh, I am sorry!!" and then just pleasantly forget about it.

I guess I sound like a cad, but if you give into the demands of EVERYONE, you will just become discouraged and cynical. Don't let it put a damper on your generosity! Your baking is a GIFT, not THEIR RIGHT! (now hand some over!.....ha ha, just joking!)

Good luck!

Answer 5

I have been in that same boat, I, too, enjoy cooking and baking for co-workers and friends. There was a time when it became expected, I stopped altogether. People would ask and I was very up front with them. It should be something you want to do not because you're asked. Besides it's coming from your pocket not theirs.

Answer 6

You've got a golden opportunity to make some extra cash!
Make up an order sheet of everything you bake and sell your goods--where I work there's a woman who bakes all kinds of goodies. She charges like $4.50 for a dozen chocolate chip cookies and she has all her daughters working at it in the kitchen.

Answer 7

Are you sure they weren't joking? I can totally see someone (myself for example) saying, "None for me?" but not really expecting food. You are completely free to share with whomever you want, but you might want to do so discreetly from now on. I think it's kind of you to share.

Answer 8

Those who felt they were being slighted should be ashamed of themselves. No way, should you be overwhelmed by their rudeness. They need to get off their butts and fix food as well.

You are not to sensitive. And no, it is not acceptable to assume that you are automatically included.

I'm on your side. Stick to your guns.

Answer 9

sounds like you think excluding people is totally acceptable.....
i would never think of bringing food to work and saying only certain people could eat it....i'd bring enough for everyone or not bring it at all......i think you were the one that had poor etiquette in this situation

Answer 10

Asking for food in that manner is very rude and ill-bred.