# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/121 "2011-06-24T15:44:52Z")
Because we never get holidays or weekends off, my job frequently provides meals for us. Holidays are often nice, catered affairs. We work 12 hour shifts, paid through lunch, in case something emergent happens and we can’t take a lunch. Occasionally, someone will get ambitious and organize a pot luck. I don’t mind too much when this happens. Gets me off my floor and away from my control room. Gives me an excuse to show off a little. Out last one was at Easter, so my kids and I made Easter Egg cake pops. Based on some of these stories, I can easily see how they could be upsetting. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/122 "2011-06-24T16:54:47Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > She recommended _Office Space_ as an example of a movie with a leadership message? I can’t explain the things she does; she is a mystery to me… ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/123 "2011-06-24T17:42:10Z")
I am grossed out by potlucks; my boss is obsessed with the nurturing aspect of people feeding each other. Not a good combo. So far, the staff and I have been fairly successful in shooting him down. We just kept “forgetting” our turns for Monday meeting snacks, for example. Now we just all pretend we were never doing that. I’ve also been known to call in sick on potluck day. My boss wants to engage in a nurturing experience with our campus by hosting potlucks. It’s going to be a nightmare. Except I’m sure nobody will think it’s a good idea and we won’t have any guests. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/124 "2011-06-24T19:27:22Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Blame the 90s and all those H/R books that stated, employees can be made happier with other things than money. > > Fair enough if your Mark Zuckerberg or some other billionaire, but for 99% of us, give us money and forget about the rest. > > I love those, “Money isn’t a motivator it’s a satisfier” crap spout in my H/R manuals in the 90s 😃 This is true but what they forget is that until the lower levels are satisfied the higher levels don’t work. So unless your employees feel they’re paid enough none of the touchy feely stuff does anything but annoy them. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/125 "2011-06-24T22:19:46Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > Because we never get holidays or weekends off… 😕 Where do you work, North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/126 "2011-06-24T23:59:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 😕 > > Where do you work, North Korea? Thankfully, no. Not a fan of Korean food. But if I did, I’d be way better armed. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/127 "2011-06-25T02:55:14Z")
Mr. Sali worked downtown for eons until he put in for a transfer at a sub-station just down the road in an industrial park. He has to go in a few hours on Saturdays, but there are no ‘bosses’ there on Saturdays, just a bunch of guys, and they apparently have a kitchen in the building. So they cook breakfast, bring in cold cut platters, even fire up a grill outside! (everyone pitches in a few bucks). Mr. Sali is not allowed in the kitchen (that would be like putting a monkey in charge of microwaving a Lean Cuisine) so he brings in a box of donuts every weekend. He enjoys his work on Saturdays, it’s the only party he gets to go to, and he brings me home a couple of donuts. I dimly recall a team-building exercise years ago in which we were split into groups with stacks of paper and told “build me a castle”.😕 So, we all set to, making ‘castles’, I know not why, but it sure beat regular old work. Comedy gold, that was. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/128 "2011-06-25T04:10:26Z")
I’ve worked some places where the potlucks were fantastic. They were mostly employee driven, so participation wasn’t forced. Some of those places were pretty monocultural, but most were somewhat diverse. We tended to label anything with meat (and what kind for those that didn’t eat pork), dairy, honey and eggs. One place had a lot of long timers who had their specialties (as did I after a couple of years); everybody vied for a bowl of Miss B’s turnip greens or one coworker’s samosas. Other places, the potlucks totally sucked. Those were the ones that I generally just grabbed a veggie platter from Kroger and was done with it. I think it mostly depends upon the work culture. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/129 "2011-06-27T22:00:39Z")
Our potlucks are great. But instead of everyone bringing in dishes, our office leader foots the bill or the company pays for it. And instead of casseroles and baked goods, we have beer, wine, and liquor. And maybe some cheese/crackers/fruit/chips type snackies. So, the key to have good potlucks is to skip the potluck part and just get drunk with people you enjoy working with. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/130 "2011-06-27T22:27:18Z")
> [@Caricci](#): > > I am grossed out by potlucks… I’m confused by your use of the word “gross.” I mean, boring, annoying, etc. I get, but what’s actually “gross” about them… unless you have co-workers whose hygeine habits you don’t trust? (Around my office, that, at least, is not an issue. Fucking germophobes, some of them.) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/131 "2011-06-27T23:03:28Z")
Ours are all employee-initiated and there is usually pretty good participation. One woman - who no longer works there - used to bring exactly one 2-liter bottle of soda every single time, then load up on the home-cooked fried chicken, meatballs, pasta, chili, etc. The bottle of soda cost her 79 cents. When someone would make a remark, she would laugh and say “sorry, I don’t cook!”. I once said something like, “Look how good you’re eating for 79 cents”. More laughter. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/132 "2011-06-28T14:48:17Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’m confused by your use of the word “gross.” I mean, boring, annoying, etc. I get, but what’s actually “gross” about them… unless you have co-workers whose hygeine habits you don’t trust? Having read some of the responses to this thread, I think that’s exactly the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/133 "2011-06-28T15:19:58Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Nope. We have three or four a year, and they’re always big hits. Same, here. We have a pretty good system worked out, too. We have, truthfully, about three actual pot-lucks a year: during teacher appreciation week the PTA brings all the food and sets up, during volunteer appreciation week the teachers bring the food and set up, and the third is usually around the holidays with it being catered from outside and both teachers and volunteers eat. During the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas we all take turns, by grade-level or department, bringing snacky appetizer foods to share on Fridays. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/134 "2011-06-28T15:52:46Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’m confused by your use of the word “gross.” I mean, boring, annoying, etc. I get, but what’s actually “gross” about them… unless you have co-workers whose hygeine habits you don’t trust? > > (Around my office, that, at least, is not an issue. Fucking germophobes, some of them.) Seeing how other people handle the food grosses me out. Food that other people are going to eat should not come into contact with people’s hands. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/135 "2011-06-29T01:00:17Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Having read some of the responses to this thread, I think that’s exactly the meaning. Not to mention stories about coworkers in other threads. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/136 "2011-06-29T01:21:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Seeing how other people handle the food grosses me out. Food that other people are going to eat should not come into contact with people’s hands. Is this a common opinion, that you can’t touch food others are going to eat? I am asking seriously. That had never, ever occurred to me. I can’t really picture cooking without touching some of the food. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/137 "2011-06-29T02:47:42Z")
Of course you have to touch the food! Just be good about washing your hands first, last, after handing things like raw meat, _absolutely_ after touching any non-food or utensils things… ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/138 "2011-06-29T02:57:09Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Is this a common opinion, that you can’t touch food others are going to eat? I am asking seriously. That had never, ever occurred to me. I can’t really picture cooking without touching some of the food. I think **Acsenray** may be talking about the consumers rather than the preparers of the food. You know, the co-workers that you know for a fact never wash their hands in the bathroom, and then use those hands to touch food. ---
**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 29, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/139 "2011-06-29T03:14:45Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Ours are all employee-initiated and there is usually pretty good participation. > > One woman - who no longer works there - used to bring exactly one 2-liter bottle of soda every single time, then load up on the home-cooked fried chicken, meatballs, pasta, chili, etc. The bottle of soda cost her 79 cents. When someone would make a remark, she would laugh and say “sorry, I don’t cook!”. I once said something like, “Look how good you’re eating for 79 cents”. More laughter. > mmm If she can’t cook, she can provide the paper goods (plates, cups, etc.). She can also pick up veggie platters and dips from the grocery. Or a fruit assortment. She was mooching, and she knew it. ---
**Author:** ![gone2thedogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gone2thedogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gone2thedogs)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877/140 "2011-06-29T04:13:07Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I’m SICK of work potlucks. We’ve been stuck with about one of these per month this year. > > 1. I work ten hour days. I don’t cook and I don’t like having to stop at the store having to buy shit outside of grocery day. Adding on 20-30 minutes to a long day does not make me an engaged employee. It makes me hate the miserable place even more. > > 2. Who the hell needs a damn buffet for lunch? I realize some people love to gorge themselves at lunch, but if I’m going to sit on my ass for ten hours, I don’t want to be full. I’m happy with a 250 calorie microwave meal or a sandwich, I don’t need lasagna AND enchiladas for lunch! > > 3. 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. Let’s try this: YOU provide the food on COMPANY time. we only have them once per year, that said we have grown from 50 people or so to over 200. It is not fun anymore! Slight hijack, companies that repay employees by having a pizza party. Yeah, I just had my team work shifts to accomodate a 16 hour process. And you want to give us a pizza party??? Take it and… well you get the drift. That was a couple of jobs ago and no one can understand why I refuse to go to any party at work that involves pizza! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-work-potluck-is-not-a-treat/541877.md?page=8)