Buffet etiquette??

As 32 people haven’t gotten involved. It is not reasonable they would expect feeding. I wouldn’t go and help myself to food I wasn’t part of.

send an email “for those of you who have contributed the buffet will be paid out from 12”.

Have a nice Mat leave.

Put a sign up in the staff room X mat leave buffet, date and time then the eight names of who’s contributing and what they’re bringing and that might encourage more to add to the list.

No I was mistaken
They are contributing food not paying to attend
Except only 8 out of 40 are joining in

I would scrap it @ShyMaryEllen and just take in cookies and donuts.
You can't really just have a buffet for 8 😂

Can you send an email saying something like 'Thriving's mat leave buffet will be in the staff kitchen from 12.00 for those who are sharing. Everyone else is welcome to join in from 1.00.'

If only 8 out of 40 colleagues actually want to take part and you’re already concerned that those who aren’t contributing will take all the food, it doesn’t sound like a particularly good or well-liked workplace custom. And what’s wrong with making it clear that those who don’t want to contribute won’t be able to join in the eating? That sounds perfectly reasonable to me, if all you’re expecting is for people to bring something easy like crisps or a punnet of grapes etc then not bothering should indicate not wanting to take part at all.

Totally normal in the public sector. I worked in a UK university for years, and any kind of celebration/leaving do was paid for by the people attending (or by one person treating others in their team). The only exception was retirement clebrations, in which case there were strict rules about what the employer could and could not pay for.

I’d just let the people contributing know the time you’re starting and suggest they tell you if that’s an issue. You can then offer to save them a plate but tbh I don’t think anyone will take you up on that- they’re contributing to your send off, not to ensure they get their allotted share of mini quiche. People just like to know so they can plan accordingly.

If your workplace do this regularly then why are you so concerned and confused about how to do it? Just do the same as you always do for it.

Not expected no.

This is very normal in a lot of uk work places. Would be called a 'pot luck' in America. You ask if people would like to join in, if so bring a 'dish' crisps, biscuits, plate of sarnies, packet of sausage rolls ect

8 people have said they would like to join in and will being a contribution. Op is asking how to make sure those who haven't contributed don't eat all the food before those who have contributed get the chance to eat.

This is easy in an office type place where everyone can take lunch together. Not so easy on shift work.

This is normal where I work too

We just set the time for the fuddle as we call it, lay everything out and if people can't make it so be it. There's usually plenty left anyway.

Savoury stuff we do is quiches, sausage rolls, picnic eggs, pork pies, samosas etc.

Enjoy your send off OP!

Someone mentioned it upthread

Oh so people are being expected by the Op to contribute food but only a few have joined in ?

😬
I think organising your own buffet is the issue.
Where I work the outgoing person brings in cakes or someone else organises it for them

Where are you getting that they've paid to attend from?

Nobody has paid to attend they are contributing food. It's called a fuddle in many places.

I think you either need to make it a contribution only event so only those who contribute get food, or make sure there’s enough for everyone.

Paying though?
That's the strange bit or have I misunderstood

I've never had a buffet at work for someone, the person leaving just brings in some cakes for the team etc

This. At my job there is very little turn over. A new member of our team has been there 15 years lol. We celebrate everything with a buffet or lunch.

People have to pay to attend a buffet at work for someone going on ML?
How strange

Just take in s few bags of cookies or donuts and leave them in the staff room!

Not at all weird! We would definitely have a buffet for someone leaving, birthday, promoted, going on mat leave, Tuesdays!

I also think it's a bit weird. It's also complicated with some people paying/bringing food and others not. How does that work? Personally I'd just buy a couple of big Costco cakes and tell everyone to help themselves, first come, first served.

Tbh I’d buy a couple trays of sandwiches/ wraps Costco is great for them and some sweet treats really it should be them organising it rather then you that’s how it’s worked everywhere I’ve worked.

That is what I would do, almost like 2 sittings. Split everything into 2 lots and that way hopefully everyone would get an opportunity. Although I would think it incredibly rude for someone to get a full feed without any contribution.

Don't overthink it - get a variety of food, including plenty of stuff that won't curl up and be unattractive if left out - put it out on the day and that's your job done. If you run out of food, not the end of the world!

Have you given a start time? If not tell those who have paid when and where to come and then open up whatever is left to the others half an hour later.

Can you just send an email out reminding of date but don't call it a buffet lunch, call it bring and share. Maybe also say something along the lines of 'to avoid us all bringing the same, please could you note what you plan to bring next to your name e.g John crisps, Sally sausage rolls'

to 'celebrate' going on leave? I mean celebrate the baby sure thing but going on leave?