Office ‘shared’ food. Would you say anything?

[KittyVonCatsworth]

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!

I think it's odd to have a snack table at work! Why do colleagues need shared food treats? Does the cheese sit out on the table all day? I'd be worried about hygiene.

Sounds like it would be easier to bring in your own snacks. I share an office with 6 and we bring in our own food. Sometimes one of us offers biscuits around or bakes a cake. We all have different tastes anyway, what's the point of pooling food in a professional environment?

He does sound greedy, but at the same time the food is there to be eaten!

I used to work with someone who would bring in cakes etc that she had baked at home. She would then sit there watching who ate what and make comments about how big a slice so and so had had.

I just think if you are bringing it in for people to eat, don't get arsey when they eat it! Just bring in your own food and eat it yourself, problem solved.

Treats tables in work are ripe for bitching about who's had what or envious glances from the Have-Nots.

People squabble.

As a manager I'd ban it or use it as a cheap method of control.

How best to control people who are being underpaid by the company than allowing them to pay for their own 3 for 2 M&S choccy treats tubs and a few bottles of prosecco and let them fight it out?

Just go home

Agree with TeaForTiger very much. It's an awful thing to do but some (women) do this very thing. In fact, if I saw somebody being pilloried for what they'd taken, I'd go out and buy some food for them to usurp the bitchiness.

Give willingly or don't give at all. Nobody needs your 'treat table'. Either that, or perhaps get a bouncer... with a list?

Stop leaving stuff out. I often buy biscuits but offer the packet. Nobody takes more than 2 then they go back in my drawer

@MumW you’re absolutely right