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Called “greedy” at work

516 replies

HamOnBeth · 29/05/2025 12:28

Yesterday we had a lunch buffet for a staff member who is going on mat leave. Usual routine is the buffet comes out at lunch time and everyone brings something such as sandwiches, sausage rolls, flapjacks, etc etc … basic party food. We do a little gift and card giving presentation then everyone gets tucked into the buffet. After lunch the food stays there and people just pick at it during the afternoon whilst they work.

So after lunch we got back to work and I walked across and got a few more sandwiches (other people were also going back up). An hour or so later I went back and got a few more bits - certainly not platefuls - just a couple of sandwiches, a couple of (bite size) flapjacks and a muffin.

We leave at 5pm. At 4pm someone said “there is so much food left”. That’s all I heard so I assumed it needed using up so I went back and got a few more bits. At this point someone said “Jesus Christ Beth, are you hungry?!”

I said “well it needs using up doesn’t it?” And laughed trying to keep it light hearted. Someone else then said “there is going to be none left for people to take home! No need to be greedy with it”.

Long story short it was apparently agreed that whatever was left would be taken home by those with kids. I did not hear this. I said I hadn’t heard this so someone said “Well no, you won’t have” and rolled their eyes.

was I really out of order here?? The food was there, lots of it. Nobody else was bothering with it. I’m embarrassed but I still don’t really think I did anything wrong? It’s not like I scoffed it all as soon as it came out.

OP posts:
Blackcordoroys · 29/05/2025 12:42

I certainly wouldn’t have said anything, and I wouldn’t take any mangy old food home to my children or eat it myself for that matter. But I would have privately thought you greedy for eating lunch, then one hour later another two platefuls, then two hours later another plateful

Hoplolly · 29/05/2025 12:42

I think if I watched someone go up four times to take food, I'd also think they were a bit greedy!

Nicole621 · 29/05/2025 12:42

I think they were really rude and I wouldn't expect people that liked you to behave like that. Do you normally get on well with them?

jeaux90 · 29/05/2025 12:42

It’s food for a work purpose meaning to be consumed by people who are employed there. Taking anything home is not reserved for certain people, especially not their kids. This is why we have had snacks removed from our workplace because people were taking the piss taking crisps and sweet home for their children.

YANBU

Barbiewhirl · 29/05/2025 12:41

I suspect the people commenting were the ones who had eyed it up to take home for their children, left overs are just that though; if any is left over. It was rude of them to comment and you were fine, its not like you ate it all so others didn't get a look in.

Snakeandladder · 29/05/2025 12:40

Next week all the ones with kids will be off looking after their children who have food poisoning from eating curled sandwiches that were left out for an entire day before being transported home in a nice warm car.

BadSkiingMum · 29/05/2025 12:38

You weren’t doing anything wrong but I think people can get a bit irrational about food.

I still feel a bit irrational about not getting a piece of mini rocky-road at an NCT postnatal get together, over fifteen years ago. But I just make up for it whenever rocky-road is available now!

Just laugh it off and ask the key commenters if they are planning to set up a system of ration cards for the next leaving lunch.

Cherrysoup · 29/05/2025 12:37

I’d be interested to know who decided people with dc were getting the rest? I remember a post on here where a colleague said she was taking home similar leftovers for her Dh/dc’s packed lunches and there was an outcry. I’d be helping myself until I left work, it was brought in for colleagues, not colleagues’ kids!

Sdrena · 29/05/2025 12:36

Very unfair on you. Greedy is hoovering things up before everyone else has had a chance.

The kids thing is odd, a bit mawkish and would frankly annoy me!

Projectme · 29/05/2025 12:34

You didn't hear that someone commented about leftovers being taken home for people's children so you weren't to know. If I was hungry, I'd have had a few more bits too.

If there was still loads left over after you had some more at 5pm, then there was still enough for those people to take bits home for their kids (ewww...yuk...the food was sat in an office environment for 4 hours at least and they actually WANTED to take it home?!)

"I said I hadn’t heard this so someone said “Well no, you won’t have” and rolled their eyes." This would have annoyed me enough to ask 'what's that supposed to mean?'

mondaytosunday · 29/05/2025 12:33

To be honest if I saw some one going back THREE times after the lunch I’d be thinking ‘Gosh how hungry can they be’? But I wouldn’t have said anything and see no reason why the food should then be reserved just for parents to take home.

Starling7 · 29/05/2025 12:33

Take note of this in your diary, with the people involved and their exact quotes. My nightmare workplace bullying situation started off with a little gang making comments like this. Watch your back. Xx

nomas · 29/05/2025 12:33

FlatErica · 29/05/2025 12:31

People with kids, probably!

Probably!

They need to be told that the food is brought in by everyone, those with kids and without kids so they can’t unilaterally decide to give it to just the parents.

Plus, wouldn’t the sandwiches be stale and hard by home time?

Lmnop22 · 29/05/2025 12:32

Isn’t the whole point of taking what’s left over exactly that - what is left once those who the food was intended for and who contributed food have eaten, namely you and your colleagues!!

This is so rude to call you greedy for eating food left out for the purposes of being eaten by those in the office, I would be upset by that too.

The others are clearly just salty that they will get less free food at the end of the day to take home for their kids….

FlatErica · 29/05/2025 12:31

nomas · 29/05/2025 12:29

YANBU. The food is there to be eaten by colleagues not bloody kids!

Who decided the food is going to the kids?

People with kids, probably!

nomas · 29/05/2025 12:29

YANBU. The food is there to be eaten by colleagues not bloody kids!

Who decided the food is going to the kids?

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