# Dear work, potluck is not a 'treat' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877 "2010-06-04T02:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/61 "2010-06-13T15:59:09Z")
Believe it or not, we had to do pot luck AGAIN on Friday. For “Employee appreciation week” we were ‘encouraged’ to have a team pot luck. Yes, I got to miss 30 minutes of the World Cup to leave for work early to buy shit for the second pot luck in 2 weeks. Oh, I’m such a happy cubicle drone now! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/62 "2010-06-13T17:37:46Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > For potlucks - I’m a vegetarian. I don’t like making a big deal of it, but potlucks kind of force the issue because you’re never sure what someone’s going to put in an otherwise innocuous-looking dish. I always carefully label any dish I bring if it’s vegetarian, so people who aren’t sure what they can eat know it’s okay. I don’t go to the potlucks at work - just not interested. I used to love church ones when I was a kid, though (deviled eggs!) and I’ve been to some pretty damned good ones at the Masonic lodge. Of course, they’re smart there - the lodge gets the meat and the women bring everything else, so you know there’ll be enough of the main course for everybody. The Buddhist whatever that I haven’t gotten up the nerve to go to a service at has potlucks, which leaves me kind of baffled when it comes to what to bring. I cook vegetarian for us at home sometimes, but I haven’t got anything that’s really, you know, potluckable that’s substantial. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/63 "2010-06-13T17:57:19Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Believe it or not, we had to do pot luck AGAIN on Friday. For “Employee appreciation week” we were ‘encouraged’ to have a team pot luck. Yes, I got to miss 30 minutes of the World Cup to leave for work early to buy shit for the second pot luck in 2 weeks. > > Oh, I’m such a happy cubicle drone now! Employee appreciation week bring your own food? I don’t think I would be too inclined to participate in that either. I agree that if it is done by the company, they should pick up the tab. We did a nice catered breakfast for employee appreciation day two weeks ago. However, there are always the employees that fill up plates upon plates to take home. It is apparent to me that all groups of people don’t dislike potluck though. My employees organize these things for every “occasion”. Even though we sponsor a christmas party outside the office, they still do a potluck a couple of days before the holiday. They do one for Thanksgiving, the companies birthday and just about any other excuse they can use. I do not make them clock out for lunch but it really is a hassle and a mess. I never heard a complaint but it may be the people that organize it pressure the others to participate with smiles. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/64 "2010-06-13T18:04:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I always carefully label any dish I bring if it’s vegetarian, so people who aren’t sure what they can eat know it’s okay. I do this too. I usually make a note of things that contain dairy or eggs as well, and I almost never take anything with peanuts in it. I don’t label the deviled eggs as “contains eggs”, though. I made a stuffed pasta shell dish for a social group, and labeled it so that people knew it didn’t have meat in it. I usually DO put meat in it when it’s just for my family, but I knew that we had several Indians (dots not feathers) who might or might not be vegetarian, plus of course there are plenty of people who don’t eat meat, or don’t eat pork. I’d suggest a bean dish for something that’s vegetarian and potluckable. Maybe with some artificial bacon bits in it, and make a note of the fact that the “bacon” is fake. When my mother was on her vegetarian kick, she made a lot of bean dishes, and they’re pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/65 "2010-06-13T20:33:09Z")
Am I the only person on earth who has awesome work potlucks? We have a woman in our unit who has Celiac disease. I always try to bring something gluten free for her, as others don’t consider it. ---
**Author:** ![MsChilePepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MsChilePepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsChilePepper)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/66 "2010-06-14T04:24:21Z")
I also label anything I take to a potluck or party. I just do a quick & dirty sign in Publisher, noting the name and ingredients of the dish, in a nice big font and maybe a thematic border, then print it out on cardstock. I cut it out and tape it to a chopstick or bamboo skewer, and stick that right in the dish so it’s obvious. Sometimes, if I’ve made a dish that I know will WOW people, I’ll also print out several copies of the recipe and put those next to the dish. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/67 "2010-06-14T06:10:42Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Mine does, and the majority of people I work with take the bus in. They still do this potluck nonsense. A lot of people just run down to the store and buy cookies or chips or something. Our potlucks are really sad, but we keep having them anyway. There are some people, strangely enough, who \*enjoy \*these things, plan for them, cook meals for the office the night before, take their car instead of the bus for a day so that they can _bring in crock pots_, and are really excited about it. These people I like to call “crazy.” Hey I’m not crazy, we just have awesome potlucks! Cooking is sort of a hobby of mine. I’m not too good, but I have a few dishes that I can make that’s quite unique. I love our potlucks and wish we’d have more of them, we only get to have a few each year. And I always try to make something if I can. I would make sure the ingredients are all ready the night before, then wake up an hour early at 6am to do all the cooking so the food will be hot when I bring it in. It’s a joy to see other people enjoying to fruits of your labor 🙂 For instance, that salmon rice thing that I accidently discovered in that other topic? I’m going to bring that during the next potluck. The fish makes it a little expensive, but people like it a lot. I brought it last week as a test to see if my coworkers would take to it and they all loved it, to the point where there was none left for my lunch! That’s how I know it’s going to be great. I plan on making a bigger batch for the next potluck so people can have more than a bowlful ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/68 "2010-06-14T11:25:33Z")
When we do potlucks at work, the dish I bring, which is a huuuuge hit, is a case of water. Under Four bucks, fat free, chloesteral free, vegan, kosher, gluten-free. Since I started this, everyone loves the idea and HATES me because it’s so farking easy. ---
**Author:** ![SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@SevenOfTeemingMillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SevenOfTeemingMillions)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/69 "2010-06-14T12:46:06Z")
I enjoy the potluck at our company. Probably because it’s done once a year. (For other events like Christmas parties, the company pays a caterer.) Mainly because I like the people and Potluck day is basically a whole-day socializing event. You can work at your desk if you want to and I’ve seen some co-workers sitting at their desk typing away (probably a deadline they have to meet) but nobody will reprimand you if you spend the whole morning decorating or arranging tables and the whole afternoon nibbling food and talking about the food. But I have a friend who works at a company where they have monthly potlucks where everyone is expected to contribute. What makes her really, really angry is that the company tells the employees that the potlucks is one of their COMPANY-PROVIDED BENEFITS. A benefit that the employees pay for. lol ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/70 "2010-06-14T17:39:24Z")
I just learned about a new blog, and was reading [this](http://theminimumrage.com/?p=67) entry… ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/71 "2010-06-14T18:26:02Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > 1. If you want to reward employees, then don’t make them pay for their treat. Don’t reward me with having to spend unpaid time with coworkers, either. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > ANY unpaid time that I spend with them should be completely voluntary, without being marked down as “not a team player” if I don’t want to attend the damn softball game or whatever. > [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Even Miss Manners says it’s wrong to force employees into socializing. > [@Pyper](#): > > Could Miss Manners have a talk with my former boss? This company thought it was a good idea to throw a “party” twice a month. _Nobody_ liked these things. As always, Scott Adams of _Dilbert_ has his finger on the pulse of the modern office workplace. One of the _Dilberts_ I’ve seen cut out and saved most often (going from memory here) goes like this: Pointy-Haired Boss: “Because of your performance last quarter, the company wants to take everyone out bowling after hours.” Alice: “But we don’t like each other and _hate_ having to socialize after work.” Pointy-Haired Boss: “Yeah, we weren’t happy about your performance last quarter.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/72 "2010-06-14T18:44:12Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Am I the only person on earth who has awesome work potlucks? > > We have a woman in our unit who has Celiac disease. I always try to bring something gluten free for her, as others don’t consider it. No, we have awesome potlucks and we love them. People who don’t love them don’t participate. The lukewarm crowd gets their plate and goes back to their desks. I love to cook and always have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/73 "2010-08-22T22:16:34Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > You could be like the guy I worked with who brought a box of Pop-Tarts to the potlucks. Unless Arby’s was having one of their 5-for-5 deals, in which case he brought roast beef sandwiches. 5 of them. Good for him. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/74 "2010-08-22T22:47:21Z")
At my work we have a pot-luck Nazi. Meaning she basically has a list of meals for people to cook/prepare . Pain in the ass for me since I walk to work. Don’t like my platter of cold cuts and cheese ? Tough shit ! I’m not lugging a crock pot full of chilli in my red wagon to work. My primary responsibility at work is to work and be civil not to feed your picky fat asses under the guise of office harmony. I don’t mind the whole communal meal thing but giving people a hard time because I didn’t bring what you \*\*ordered for free \*\* really tests my civility. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/75 "2010-08-22T23:11:39Z")
We always have a pot luck for Christmas. Each of the five teams picks a day and brings in food for the entire building (35 teachers, 10 or so staff). Since there are only 4 - 5 of us on a team, we all bring in lots of food. I used to bring in the paper products and pop but that’s a popular option and I don’t speak up quickly enough. We need appetizers, main courses, desserts, drinks, plastic silverware, plates, napkins and cups for 45 people. I hate it. We all drive to school, but making 5 trips across an icy parking lot with “stuff” isn’t any fun. The food is good, but I don’t eat that much and it gets really expensive. I think I’m one of the only ones who feel this way, though, based on the full plates and smiling faces. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/76 "2010-08-22T23:14:35Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > We have irregular potlucks in my department, and I enjoy them. . . . These potlucks are always organized by the staff, and we all get along really well and enjoy each other’s company, so it’s a pleasure. Ditto for the office above me. No pressure. A good time had by all. My only complaint is that when they occur, it is usually on a Friday, which is really bad for me because I am not able to prepare food on Thursday evenings, and about half the time I am not in town on Fridays. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/77 "2010-08-22T23:19:26Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I cook vegetarian for us at home sometimes, but I haven’t got anything that’s really, you know, potluckable that’s substantial. Chili – that’s what I often fall back on, for I can prepare it and freeze it, rather than have to prepare it the night before. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/78 "2010-08-22T23:39:35Z")
I hated the office manager at one firm. She announced a contest. First one to get a certain HR paper into her wins a prize! Well, I won. The so-called prize was lunch with the office manager. ---
**Author:** ![Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/das_glasperlenspiel/32/2944_2.png) [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Das_Glasperlenspiel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/79 "2010-08-22T23:48:17Z")
One Thanksgiving the staff at my organization (First Nations-related) organized a potluck with all the traditional foods from the different nations (as I recall, there were Mohawk, Ojibwe, Cree, Abenaki, Algonquin and Scotland/Ireland (me) represented). There was turkey, bannock fried and baked, three sisters soup, cipaille, turkey mole, Indian tacos, toutons and lassie and other wonderful things. We had put a lot of time and effort into cooking the very best of our traditions. Everything was set up and the staff had just started to gather when the big boss of the organization came in with about a dozen “VIP” guests. Let me note that neither he, nor his guests, had been invited since he was supposed to be out of town. The staff, who had cooked all this food, made the mistake of letting the big boss and his guests serve themselves first. By the time the ravening horde had departed, loaded plates in hand, there were some bannock crumbs, a denuded turkey carcass, and a cupful of soup left.:eek: The CFO went out and got KFC for us to eat. :smack: Although that particular boss has since departed, any staff-organized potlucks are held after hours and off site. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/80 "2010-08-22T23:59:40Z")
> [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](#): > > One Thanksgiving the staff at my organization (First Nations-related) organized a potluck with all the traditional foods from the different nations… lassie 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877.md?page=5)