Not my desk; asking for a friend. Anyway -- he has a little bowl that he keeps stocked with miniature chocolate bars, and people stop in his office to chat and have a choccy.
They'll even fly out the door when he's not around.
On one hand, this makes him, as you might imagine, popular at work. All manner of superiors and underlings stop in; the social aspects are a plus.
But it's starting to cost quite a bit.
Part of this is his fault; 'No, go ahead -- take two! Help yourself!' And he'd prefer not to pawn off cheap chocolates, too.
People above him have thrown him a few bucks, unsolicited, here and there for the chocolate bowl maintenance. But it's rare, and all told, paid for a about a weeks' worth. It is now a pretty expensive habit.
Suggestions, short of barking "Don't be piggy!" ...?
2007-02-05 09:57:30 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Why do it: in short, it improves his day.
Problem for him: just cost-wise. The frustration with the high cost is making what's supposed to be enjoyable less so.
All I've been able to come up with was mixing in cheaper things, on the idea that few people taking more than one would fish around for two expensive ones...
2007-02-05 10:16:56 · update #1
If it's that expensive and a problem, why do it?
I personally wouldn't ask for donations. They'd be asking for donations to do something that they are not obligated to do. Why? I know it brightens their day, but if it becomes a stressor, how much is it really doing that?
Those people who are gourging are doing so because it's there and it's free.
I'd bet you, that if you ask for donations, those that take the most would not offer. If the candy jar just went empty, they'd just do without. If they're the gorging type, it's because they're selfish. Why would asking for donations work then? Candy is not a necessity. It's nice, but... And even so, you might get some donations for awhile(and probably not from the gourgers), but I doubt it would continue for so long. Again, because it's not a necessity.
Personally, in life, I've found that "you" are the only person that LETS people take advantage of you. If you don't let them, it stops.
2007-02-05 10:01:41 · answer #1 · answered by froggypjs 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This happens where I work, too. I put out the candy and the chocolate lovers come from miles around.
Once in a while someone else stocks the jar. Sometimes with good stuff, sometimes with cheap stuff.
It's getting expensive for me, too.
Some suggestions:
1. Refrain from filling the bowl all the time. If it's empty for a while, maybe he will get some $ help.
2. Ask for donations. He could even leave a small jar out for loose change. Those who want, may contribute.
3. Stop doing it altogether. Put out the bowl on special occasions like the holidays, Valentine's Day, Easter.
Your friend shouldn't have to foot the bill for the snackers in your dept. It's very generous, but I think some of the other staffers are taking advantage of his generosity.
2007-02-05 12:38:25 · answer #2 · answered by Lizzie 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, research has been done about this, and they found that people tend to take more when treats are offered in a transparent dish. They also tend to take more when it is just a bowl with no lid.
So, tell him to try something opaque and with a lid (like a cookie jar). The only thing that will have changed is the container, but the quantities will drop simply due to the Psychology at work. Everyone involved will still get the same results too.
Enjoy!
2007-02-06 04:01:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to do the same thing with sugarfree hard candies that were individually wrapped. I carried a big bag of them with me when I was delivering newspapers and everyone that got a newspaper got a piece of candy tucked inside it. It usually boosted my tips around the holidays.
When I had an office job, I did the same thing - had the same sugar-free candies in a bowl on my desk - free for all.
In your friend's case, perhaps it would be a nice gesture to suggest to everyone in the office to make Tuesdays and Wednesdays a bag of chocolates day - everyone bring a bag of miniatures or hard candies - individually wrapped - for him to fill the bowl on his desk when he is having a tough time keeping it full. That way, there are no hard feelings and the tradition goes on.
2007-02-05 12:03:33 · answer #4 · answered by north79004487 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell your friend to let the bowl stay empty for a day or two so piggy people get the hint. I have a candy dish as well, but I only fill it sporadically; several people at work actually bring candies in and fill it for me because they want to see it filled and enjoy a treat when they stop by.
2007-02-05 12:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by Sassygirlzmom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he's putting out little chocolate bars, those are easy to keep count of; tell him to put out a set amount in the morning (or after lunch) and when it's gone, it's gone til the next time of "fill up." I would also put out a cute child's piggy bank with "chocolate money" written on the side.
If either of these make people ask what's up, he has a chance to kindly hit people up for "donations." I don't think anyone would be offended, and I'm willing to bet that some people will be surprised to find that he pays for this out of his own pocket.
2007-02-05 11:09:30 · answer #6 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My mom used to do this. A very appreciative co-worker who saw people taking advantage of her got a can and decorated it and made a sign that said, chocolate donations accepted and put it next to the candy dish. Could you maybe do that and make sure others see you put it by the bowl and see you put in the first dollar or quarter or whatever? In a job situation I had, the "big wigs" gladly gave, they didn't have time to shop for the candy so they willingly gave the donation. And they liked getting out of their own office!
2007-02-05 11:42:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had a boss who did this, and yes, there were piggy people who took whole handfuls, and since I had the keys to the office, we worked eve shift, she was not there, people would stop me in mid-job to have me open the office so they could get candy, telling me it was their right to have it. Rude.
She solved the problem by mixing hard candy and cheaper candy in with the chocolates, and when it was gone, it was gone. And I solved my problem by telling her of the it's my right people, and it was OK by her to open the office.
To my knowledge, no one except me offered to help out with the cost. She refused my help, but I bought a bag of what I like, and threw it in, more than once.
2007-02-05 15:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to do that same thing at my previous job. I was a receptionist, and actually had customers coming through the office. I would buy 1 bag per week, and when they were gone, they were gone. I'm very frugal, so I'd buy them when they were on sale and lock them up in my desk. I'd drag out 1 bag at a time. This helped cut back on abusers of the "help yourself" policy. They would realized that if they "helped" themselves too much at the beginning of the week, there would be nothing left by Thursday or Friday.
My boss was great and started letting me write off the chocolate on an expense report. We budgeted it in with the coffee budget.
2007-02-05 10:15:57 · answer #9 · answered by grshoppers 2 · 11⤊ 0⤋
Does he have a problem with this or are you just concerned. If he is having a problem then he should just stop having the chocolates. People will ask him why and he should respond that it was costing more than what he wanted to spend per month. He gets paid to work there not to be the life of the party.
2007-02-05 10:02:18 · answer #10 · answered by Michael K 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋