My programmers work hard. I work hard right there with them, sharing the load.
Boss (VP) comes in around 11am, see’s we’re busy as hell trying to make his laughable project completion date, and probably are going to have to work through lunch. Again.
Him being the generous man he is, offers to get us lunch. Whadda guy. “What kind of sandwiches would you like?” We tell him. He’s got a really good memory because he’s not writing any of this down.
…time passes…
2pm, and we’re all wondering if we should just go and get lunch, or simply all go home with hungry headaches.
The first time this happened, we all just thought he got redirected.
The second time this happened, we got pissed.
This is the third time. How should we be feeling about this by now? How do you tell a VP that he’s an ass? I realize that this is a free lunch and all, but jeez!
My suggestion would be that the next time he offers it, wait until he’s almost walking out the door and go up to him and say “Hey, if you’re not actually going to bring us lunch, you have to stop offering it, the last three times you did that all my programmers skipped their lunch hour since they were expecting something to show up” you could go on to say “Hey, no one is expecting you to bring lunch, you certainly don’t have to, but you can’t say you’re going to and then not do it, that’s not really fair”
I would say something, but sort of phrase it like maybe it was the fault of the lunch delivery service, or maybe a receptionist forgot to make the order. I’m curious about what he’d say. This is so assholish - I don’t want to believe that someone does these types of things on purpose!
I would just say it, around 12. Do you not see him after all that time? “Say, boss, I was going to go pick myself up a sandwich, unless you’re still buying?” Does he eat you alive if you ask him a question? I ask not to be snarky but genuinely. Even my meaner bosses didn’t get their backs up too much at a question like that.
TruCelt is on the right track. Next time your boss makes the offer, tell him that you’ll find out what everybody wants and send in the order, and then submit an expense report. Put him on the spot. If he says no, everyone knows he’s a dick while he’s standing right there to enjoy it.
Indeed. I’m going to get lunch whether you like it or not. If you want me to work through lunch, then you have to feed me. My work recently saw fit to not give us phones. It’s no one-person’s fault or anything, but still. I need a phone. So when people have issues that they need to call me about, I tell them to email me. And if I don’t get the email because I’m not at my desk or I already left for the day, tough. The problem doesn’t get fixed. If you want me to answer calls, you have to give me a phone.
Tell the programmers to eat, and tell the boss that he only has himself to blame.