Office pot luck etiquette - how to handle?

Question

We have several challenges in our office--and I'm certain this is the same in most work places. We have a mix of ages & genders--but most everyone earns the same and has the same lifestyle. Our group (about 30 people) are always very excited to have food days. The idea being that everyone brings a dish to pass, cutting down on individual lunches needed to be packed. Only 3 or 4 peole are ever willing to make a suitable dish for a meal, the rest want to bring soda liters, chips, or store bought sweets. This is lazy, and much less expensive--and unfair. The "snack" people are always the people to request frequent food days too. Should we charge people who don't contribute at all money and pool that for carryout pizza days--or require that people choose a dish off a prepared list? We've gently suggested people "amp" up their efforts--but nothings worked. What does everyone else do? I guess if I didn't bring anything, or spent .79, I wouldn't feel entitled to graze all day.

Answer 1

First, the amount of money people make here isn't the issue.
Preparing a dish that could fall under judgment of your peers is.

Not everyone cooks. The store bought items guarantees a certain quality.

As far as the frequent cheep grazers? Unless you want to impose a "minimum value" for all contributions you would have some P.C. issues of making a rule for specific groups.

In short, you may just have to deal with it OR say "no more" until the quality of contributions come up a step or two.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I have been there, trust me! I used to work in an office of about 10 people and we would try to have a potluck every month. There were always those same people who would run and sign up for plates, napkins, forks, ice, cups, etc. That used to really make me mad b/c those folks are the same ones that would eat up all the food! Eventually, the people who provided actual food all the time got tired of it and the potlucks slowly vanished (very unfortunate). But if you dont want to end up like our office did, you can try some of these ideas:
1. Have a sign up sheet with categories (utensils, meat, veggies, dessert, etc.) and make a rule that you can't bring something in the same category more than once. If they don't like the idea, then they don't have to participate.
2. As you mentioned, you can have a prepared list and people can choose what they'd like to bring.
3. You could just mention it to everyone during a meeting or through email, or if it's the same offenders and if you feel comfortable with it, you can try to talk to them individually. I might say something like, "I noticed that for lunch the other day you had xxx, and I bet it would be a great potluck dish!" etc.
4. Some people just bring that kind of stuff b/c they either can't cook, or they feel that they don't cook well enough. And sometimes it's a financial issue (making a dish to feed 30 people is far more expensive than buying some sodas or a few bags of chips). Finding the root of the problem will help to solve it much easier. If it's b/c they can't cook, maybe someone could share an easy recipe with them. If it's financial, then maybe instead of contributing a large dish he/she can pool money together with others who are in the same boat and contribute towards pizza or subs, etc (as you mentioned).

It's a shame that people are like that, b/c much like you, I wouldn't feel comfortable eating if I didn't fairly contribute to a potluck lunch. Whatever you decide to do, you should do SOMETHING otherwise something that was meant to build morale will quickly lower it and cause problems. Good luck!

Answer 3

Office Potluck Etiquette

Answer 4

How do you monitor people who will run up and get more than their fair share of all the homemade items including desserts. I have sent out numerous emails concerning the proper etiquitte, made overhead anouncements telling them to be gracious and considerate of their fellow peers and only take one dessert until everyone has been through the line. Still doesn't work. Then when it's over the ones who never bring anything want to come in and take what they can home with them.. And no one offers to help clean up!

Answer 5

You make a sign up sheet. You state that drinks, plates, napkins, etc. will be provided by the company. You state that everyone needs to bring a main course dish, side dish, or dessert to be able to participate in the potluck. You have everyone's name on the list with room for them to write what they are bringing beside it. You either pass it around or post it in a common area. Anyone who doesn't bring a dish on the day of potluck doesn't participate.

(I don't know where you live, but store bought sweets are plenty expensive around here!)

Answer 6

Do you have a sign up sheet? You could use that to keep track of what everyone is bringing, and if the lazy group tries to sign up for cokes or chips or whatever let them know that it's already covered and what you really need is side dishes, pastas, etc. That's what we do in our office. It also helps eliminate having too much of one thing and not enough of another. And, in order to eat, you MUST bring a dish.

Answer 7

If the office pot luck is not working for your office then consider not doing it. A group in an office should only participate in events that are agreeable to everyone in the group. Consider an alternative such as ordering in food after everyone has paid their fair share. You will find it impossible to make employees participate the way you want them too.

Answer 8

I know, isn't it sad......we have the same problem here. I really don't even want to participate, and probably wont next year. I make potato salad enough for 25, and "Crystal" brings a couple of 2 liter drinks......and she makes almost TWICE what I make. People aren't right anymore......

Answer 9

this is a common problem....the only way to make it fair and equitable is to assign dishes. A thru G bring hot dish, H thru M bring a beverage, N thru Z bring dessert. If you want to attend you have to contribute. Then switch the dishes next time to H thru M, etc.

Answer 10

make a list with a small number of slots for chips, drinks, and desserts. use more slots for the entrees. that way, once those slots fill up, there won't be any problems. if you notice that someone is eating that hasn't brought anything, then speak to them.