Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Office ‘shared’ food. Would you say anything?

256 replies

KittyVonCatsworth · 21/11/2018 13:04

We’re a really small team, 10 of us in the office. There’s a table where we all often bring treats in biscuits, fruit, cheese etc for us to help ourselves. However, there’s always the same guy that just trounces the food! He does occasionally bring in a packet of biscuits but e.g I bought in a packet of ginger cookies, teacakes and some chocolate bars. About 30 snacks/treats in total which could’ve easily lasted 2/3 days but he just demolished them! The same with the fruit today; instead of one satsuma he’s had 5! As well as grapes and bananas and 3 mince pies. All before lunchtime.

I know it seems a bit of a non issue but I just find it greedy and it really puts me off bringing in treats for the rest of the team. I’m normally very abrupt and direct but I don’t want to embarrass him or the rest of the team or come across as mean. It’s been mentioned by others in the team too.

Would you say anything and if so, how would you say ‘stop being a woofer’ in a nice way!

OP posts:
ACatsNoHelpWithThat · 21/11/2018 13:06

Yes someone should say something to him. Who's in charge? Could it be brought up in a general way during your next team meeting? Or a rota for bringing stuff in which you can opt in or out of?

mrsed1987 · 21/11/2018 13:08

I dont see how its a problem. We also bring in shared treats and i dont keep tabs on who eats what x

Hushnownobodycares · 21/11/2018 13:10

Is there a manager or team leader?

Guy puts me in mind of a CF friend from way back who'd take lemonade to a party and drink wine...

RTFT · 21/11/2018 13:10

It's greedy though mrsed1987 other people will be missing out as he's scoffing most of it, it doesn't sound like he replenishes often either. Think I'd just say "oi, leave some for the rest of us" you greedy bastard

Petitprince · 21/11/2018 13:11

We had a guy like this at my old job. His wife was a SAHP and money was tight. She did all the budgeting and shopping and only gave him enough money for the bus and his very small packed lunch each day. When confronted he said it was his only way of eating nice things. It didn't explain why he ate so much of it, but we left him to it after that.

DisrespectfulAdultFemale · 21/11/2018 13:12

Perhaps you could do what we do in my office which is that everyone takes turns, once a week, to bring in treats for the team. It won't stop your greedy colleague but at least he'll have to contribute.

KatharinaRosalie · 21/11/2018 13:13

In theory I would of course have a conversation with the offender and point out that he's not treating the table as it was intended, if he's eating 10 times of what he contributes.

In reality I would loudly wonder how come the snack table is so bare already, as I only had one satsuma, who keeps scoffing the lot??

JuniperBeer · 21/11/2018 13:16

Can you say loudly when there are a few people (including him) in the room - does anyone know where all the cakes and biscuits alhave gone? I brought loads in today to last us a few days and they’ve nearly all gone already!

Original poster
KittyVonCatsworth · 21/11/2018 13:16

Mrsed, it’s hard not to keep tabs to be honest. It’s such a small office. I think Hushnow has hit the nail on the head about the CFuckery of it. One packet of dark chocolate digestives (of which he’ll eat 3/4 of a packet) does not make up for the mountain he works his way through 😂

As I type, he’s just gone for another bloody mince pie

I could mention it to our boss but he’s as subtle as me, and we have complained to him about a couple of other issues surrounding him and his work.

OP posts:
LizzieBennettDarcy · 21/11/2018 13:18

I wouldn't bring them in for one person to scoff.

He's being rude and greedy.

If you all stop bringing stuff in, he may get the hint!

NoSquirrels · 21/11/2018 13:21

Sounds like a recipe for bad feeling anyway. Just stop bringing so much in. Or establish a kitty.

XJerseyGirlX · 21/11/2018 13:22

I would just offer around what you bring in and dont leave it on a table, That way everyone gets a fair chance.

Sexnotgender · 21/11/2018 13:25

There’s always one isn’t there!

We had similar where I used to work, people would regularly bring in nice treats and he’d just plough his way through like 5 times what anyone else did and NEVER brought anything in himself.

MumW · 21/11/2018 13:25

I think that it's time to stop the shared table.

prettybird · 21/11/2018 13:25

Rather than everyone else missing out because of his greediness, I'd continue to bring stuff in but keep it on my desk and periodically either hand it round or ask if anyone wants some. Then I'd be able to say, "sorry, you've already had more than your share" when he comes to grab extra.

It's a shame though because that is more hassle and also dilutes the "sharing" ethos of your office but he's already done that

Ffsnosexallowed · 21/11/2018 13:27

A lady in our team brings out the tupperware when we bring in food - to bring some home for her children.....

caperplips · 21/11/2018 13:27

I worked in a place where something like this used to happen. I got around it by bringing the cake / chocolate / biscuits etc to the shared coffee / tea area, everyone had some and if there was anything left I would pack it up and put it back in my drawer till the next day..

Same with ground coffee for the filter machine. I was happy to buy the coffee and make a pot to share at break time but learnt to take the bag of coffee back to my office or there would be none left by the next day...

Original poster
KittyVonCatsworth · 21/11/2018 13:27

We’ve got a weekly rota for cheese where we bring in various cheeses and biscuits and he does contribute to that when it’s his turn. It’s the bits in between, if we fancy a biscuit in the afternoon things that aren’t scheduled. I think the answer is for us to stop bringing stuff in in between times. Just our own Scooby snacks. It’s a shame because it worked really nicely before he came along.

OP posts:
Ffsnosexallowed · 21/11/2018 13:27

Oh - no money worries, just greed

Sexnotgender · 21/11/2018 13:28

A lady in our team brings out the tupperware when we bring in food - to bring some home for her children

Wow! That’s a whole other level of cheeky fuckery.

wizzywig · 21/11/2018 13:29

Put on a fake concerned voice and ask if moneys tight at home. Then next month give him a bag of tinned foods and spare clothes as a team christmas present as he is obviously not earning enough to give himself food at home. Orrrr can you all have a prerecorded 'oink oink, put it back' message thats played everytime he goes near the snack table

HingleMcCringleberry · 21/11/2018 13:30

XJerseyGirlX - definitely the way to do it. Offer everyone a biscuit/teacake/mince pie in the morning, leave them in your desk drawer until the afternoon when you go for round two, then rinse and repeat the next day.

ThePants999 · 21/11/2018 13:31

There's so much passive aggressiveness being suggested here. Just raise it directly with him. "Bob, the shared treats are meant to be an occasional snack. Please cut down what you take, and also ensure you contribute as much as you take. Thanks."

bellabasset · 21/11/2018 13:31

Stop putting treats out, email your colleagues to collect from you. Make it light hearted. It sounds as though your colleague has a compulsive eating disorder so you might be doing him a favour.

Eliza9917 · 21/11/2018 13:32

@KittyVonCatsworth Wed 21-Nov-18 13:27:31
We’ve got a weekly rota for cheese where we bring in various cheeses and biscuits and he does contribute to that when it’s his turn. It’s the bits in between, if we fancy a biscuit in the afternoon things that aren’t scheduled. I think the answer is for us to stop bringing stuff in in between times. Just our own Scooby snacks. It’s a shame because it worked really nicely before he came along.

Do you have cheese & wine Fridays? Someone I know does and you might be them!

Swipe left for the next trending thread