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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:
Bridgetjonesheart · 29/05/2025 21:08

Shocking behaviour of them to say things like this in a work setting. Make a point of saying something to them to highlight that you took note of what they said. It gives warning vibes to not mess again. ‘Ey people were really narked about they buffet yesterday weren’t they’ or something like that. If you’re passive, as another poster said, a bullying situation could start.

Holiday24 · 29/05/2025 20:39

The food is there to be eaten! As long as other people have had a chance to grab some, then go back for seconds as many times as you like. It's quite normal for people to grab a few bits throughout the day at my work when there are treats out.

I wouldn't dream of commenting like this to a colleague; it is rude and unnecessary.

UpsideDownChairs · 29/05/2025 20:23

There was plenty of food, no-one at work was missing out, fill your boots OP - you weren't sticking it in Tupperware to take home, you were eating it then and there. As was intended.

I'd be glad to see the food being eaten if I'd brought it, and if I heard someone say that to you, I'd make a point of going up and getting some more myself, because again, that's what it was for.

vintagehope · 29/05/2025 20:01

Barcelina · 29/05/2025 18:30

If they're overweight they're eating more than they need. If they're not, they're not eating more than they need?

This must honestly be the dumbest thing I’ve read in a long time.😂

Illegally18 · 29/05/2025 20:00

babystarsandmoon · 29/05/2025 16:54

I’m sorry but it does sound very greedy. You went up four times.

ooh shocking!

Illegally18 · 29/05/2025 19:57

Barcelina · 29/05/2025 18:30

If they're overweight they're eating more than they need. If they're not, they're not eating more than they need?

Lucky you if you think it's that simple.

vintagehope · 29/05/2025 19:55

PorgyandBess · 29/05/2025 19:45

I don’t like people putting lots on a plate, nor going back for more. I am an inveterate snob, mind.

So what would you do?

PorgyandBess · 29/05/2025 19:45

I don’t like people putting lots on a plate, nor going back for more. I am an inveterate snob, mind.

Nettleteaser101 · 29/05/2025 19:44

I don't know about manky leftovers but I used to hate if there was cake left out to go stale and not covered. Such a waste.

Illegally18 · 29/05/2025 19:42

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 29/05/2025 12:45

I'll admit to me it sounds like you had a lot, an hour after lunch you went back for several more sandwiches, another hour and a couple of sandwiches, flapjacks and a muffin. That's all I'd normally eat for lunch and I wouldn't be constantly grazing all afternoon

Well, maybe the OP was hungry. Some days you can get hungrier than usual, you've got your period, it's cold, you didn't sleep enough. whatever.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 29/05/2025 19:24

PetiteBlondeDuBoulevardBrune · 29/05/2025 15:30

Did you eat more than what you brought (roughly)? If yes, that would be greedy, especially going back that many times for several
items each time.
Maybe some people only had food once and were planning to get a second helping on their way out?

I think that if you had a plate at lunch time then thought you'd take more at 4pm you are taking your chances. Better to make up another plate for yourself after everyone has had a chance at a first round and save it.

maybeuptight · 29/05/2025 19:24

It feels weird to have food sit out all afternoon. We do pitch-ins at work, but the food is put away after an hour or so and sometimes we eat leftovers for days.

LillyPJ · 29/05/2025 19:17

MyCoralHedgehog · 29/05/2025 15:45

Are you a dietician?

Are you?

MoominMai · 29/05/2025 19:05

babystarsandmoon · 29/05/2025 19:04

Well… They were certainly working less than everyone else if they spent the afternoon back and forward to the buffet.

It literally takes seconds to grab a plate and load up on food. I think loss of output was negligible!

babystarsandmoon · 29/05/2025 19:04

MoominMai · 29/05/2025 19:00

Tough! You snooze you lose! Also that’s implying OP wasn’t working. @HamOnBeth YANBU If it’s a regular party buffet, the expectation is people will be picking at for the remainder of the day while it’s there. Then whatever’s left is usually shared fairly between whoever wants it. OPs office sounds a judgemental nightmare monitoring who’s taking what and then deciding only people with kids are allowed to take any leftovers at home - feck that!

Edited

Well… They were certainly working less than everyone else if they spent the afternoon back and forward to the buffet.

MoominMai · 29/05/2025 19:00

babystarsandmoon · 29/05/2025 17:53

I would assume that most would have one plate and then be too busy working to keep on going back up so maybe others didn’t have the chance to plate up more until it was time to finish work.

Tough! You snooze you lose! Also that’s implying OP wasn’t working. @HamOnBeth YANBU If it’s a regular party buffet, the expectation is people will be picking at for the remainder of the day while it’s there. Then whatever’s left is usually shared fairly between whoever wants it. OPs office sounds a judgemental nightmare monitoring who’s taking what and then deciding only people with kids are allowed to take any leftovers at home - feck that!

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/05/2025 18:56

FlightCommanderPRJohnson · 29/05/2025 18:27

Really? If she's overweight , she's greedy, but not if she's slim? I don't understand your logic. Someone eating excessively from the buffet is greedy - how does their weight affect that?

I don't understand that logic either, but I did wonder if OP was overweight for a different reason.
If you were slim in the situation, you would care less about colleagues rude attitude, it probably would be worded differently too.
I love a munch on the sandwich platter in work, people saying stupid things annoys me "Do you have hallow legs" or "I bet that will feed you for a week" stupid behaviour.

PinkCrochet · 29/05/2025 18:51

NicolaCasanova · 29/05/2025 12:47

This reminds me of my old toxic workplace and an especially toxic, selfish colleague. We did a kind of informal bake-off once where about 8 out of say 12 of us signed up to bring in a homemade treat one week (a different person each week.) The 4 or so who didn’t sign up are those who rarely work on-site or have restricted diets. Everyone takes public transport to work and it was really just for fun so people would just being in 8-10 portions of what they had made so everyone could taste.

As soon as she arrived, cheeky toxic fucker would put at least 2 (usually 4) portions into her purposeful Tupperware for her teenage sons’ snack! I avoided interacting with her as she was just such an awful person (and the main reason I left working there) but a blunt, Australian colleague just called her out, just factually, without being rude or pass-agg, and it was glorious.

I need to know how the CF reacted when challenged? Well done to your colleague!

Daybrake · 29/05/2025 18:42

pinkyredrose · 29/05/2025 18:36

People without kids are dealing with the cost of living too.

Absolutely and @dottydodah you don’t know each person’s situation.

Someone might have two kids but also a high earning partner, lots of savings from inheritance.

Someone else might have no kids, no partner (so a single income household) and no chance of an inheritance and barely any savings.

Or someone might have kids but also a UC top up which covers their rent and someone else with no kids may be struggling to pay their mortgage.

And these aren’t unusual scenarios, it’s very common.

outerspacepotato · 29/05/2025 18:39

When we brought food to work, there were rarely leftovers because even though it was night shift and people were 2 or 3 floors down, they would end up coming up for the food. Even the surgeons who got called in would show up.

But if there were leftovers, they went home with the person who made them.

Your coworkers obviously didn't like you going back 3 more times and called you on it.

"Think of the children!" though, I'd have been dying. 😂

Goldenbear · 29/05/2025 18:39

Am I the only person who is thinking that buffet food sitting around in an office all day looses it's appeal, is it even safe if meats etc.

Notabikerchick · 29/05/2025 18:37

You were greedy, your colleague was rude.

SoozyWoozy5 · 29/05/2025 18:36

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!

this!

pinkyredrose · 29/05/2025 18:36

dottydodah · 29/05/2025 14:39

TBH I think you were being a bit over zealous! Once or twice to be up for more OK 3 or 4 times a little bit much really.I also think with COL as it is, people with kids should come first .It's hard to feed a family these days.

People without kids are dealing with the cost of living too.

Goldenbear · 29/05/2025 18:35

I think that is unfair and rude to comment when there is loads of food left. Where I work the food goes pretty fast though as other than me and a woman in a different department the other colleagues are men and they don't seemingly have any qualms about eating as much as possible first time around let alone going up for more! We did have a funny situation for World Food day where a new starter who didn't know anyone loaded up the biggest plate of food I have ever seen. He took half of one plated item but he was young so maybe really hungry.

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