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!

We had the same thing in the office where I worked, although there were two or three culprits there. As I was in the only part-time post, the availability of my desk had unfortunately previously led to it being designated as the food table, so it was impossible for me to miss who was taking what. Fortunately I wasn't the only one who noticed the problem. A woman who was far more confident and out-spoken than myself, began making seagull squawking noises when the three approached, which was usually within a minute of the food being placed on the table. She also loudly suggested to them that they might also like to bring in some food to share. It did cause embarrassment, to two of them anyway, who stopped taking so much from the table and did begin bringing in food themselves. The third person continued in the same fashion unfortunately, obviously very thick skinned and he was particularly annoying as he would try to start pathetic conversations with me about any old rubbish, as if he thought I then wouldn't notice what he was doing. Aren't people strange! All this is one of the reasons why I am glad I don't work there anymore.,

Just tell everyone you are not bringing in food to feed 'X". He is taking the p*s out of the goodwill. And of course you no longer help yourself either. That leaves the rest of them to deal with the issue or not as they choose.

What the hell is this thing with shared food? Is your pay so bad you need an in-house food bank?

In our office, it's common to bring some treats back from holiday. Staff numbers have grown, so it's a token gesture - nobody's luggage allowance is enough to bring something for everyone! I brought some boxes of biscuits. When I opened them in the office I discovered there was more packaging: 4 biscuits in each poly bag.

The next day, a man thanked me for them. Said he'd enjoyed one with his afternoon coffee and another one this morning (I'm already thinking - you've had more than your share!) and went on to tell me he was looking forward to the other 2 later on.

He's one of the highest earners in the place unlike me. CF.

I think it's best to make a fairly direct comment about this - you can do it in a light-hearted way - 'Oh X, have you eaten all the biscuits again? There should have been enough to last a couple of days. Do you think you could think of the others or at least start to bring in more yourself?' If it's said with a smile, it makes it easier to say and hear.

If he then continues to eat too much and not contribute, I don't think there's much to be done. Communal food sharing will always lead to some bringing/eating more than their share and you can't prevent that.....and to be honest, if it bothers you a lot, it's best to back off from involvement in it. You do have to be a bit flexible about these things. However, I do think it's worth saying something if it is as serious as you say - but say it once and then accept that his behaviour is his own and if he chooses to be greedy, a communal food table is a system which will allow him to continue being greedy.

All this hiding biscuits in the drawer and removing them etc - don't bother. Either bring the stuff and accept that you just donate it and it's gone, or don't get involved if you can't cope with this kind of thing and let it go.

Sounds like this communal food table might need reigning in a bit anyway....how about cutting it back to just an occasional thing.....who needs loads of treats every day anyway really?

I would stop bringing in treats. Problem solved.

My ex husband would have done this. When we were married if ever we went out socially l was mortified by his greediness.
l'd do the food shop, then about three days later he'd be moaning that there was 'nothing to eat'. l found out that when l was at work (shifts) when he made his evening meal, he'd have 2 chicken Kievs with potatoes and a huge plate of vegetables. Apparently l was being unreasonable expecting him to 'only' have one chicken Kiev with each meal.

When we went on an all inclusive holiday, he put a stone and a half on in two weeks. l lost half a stone because l couldn't sit opposite him and eat while he was shovelling in food like his life depended on it.
l imagine at work he'd have done the same as this man. lf everyone is contributing and he only makes a token offering, l wouldn't be able to keep quiet. lt's greedy, cheeky, and unfair to everyone else. You either contribute fairly or don't take part.

We had a manager who would pop in our office and helped himself from the sweetie tub so we bought a load of joke sweets... I heard there were a few giggles at his blue teeth. He didn't think much of the garlic sweets either.

Don’t take anything in for a few days

Or take in really horrid biscuits

I think it's a bit controlling worry. I work in a team of 8. I bring in team snacks and my own. I've never recorded how long they last or who eats them!

That said for this kind of arrangement to work takes equal mutual respect between the team.

I take biscuits in every Friday, and that is part of the 'fun' for me. I don't care who eats them - or count them. It is 'biscuit Friday' :)

I bought mince pies today too.

I think personally each person should just bring their own food in, and share when there’s a birthday etc. It’s such a burden otherwise, and frankly you come to work to work, not have hyper-complex social arrangements over cheese and fruit. But then I’m a bit of a bah-humbugger, and it is nice to share.

Just tell him straight - people like that need to be spoken to very bluntly, and usually aren't offended by it.

I would just bring my own in and keep it in my drawer for a while.

What you brought in on one go sounds like a lot though - maybe he just thinks as you bring in quite an excess, you don't mind it being eaten to excess as well? Like there's so much there he is eating a greater proportion than if there was less IYSWIM?

Maybe just bring in a packet of biscuits at a time.

@Lostin3dspace it's your parents job to teach you self control, not your work mates. No one cares if you're fat, just don't scoff anything if you don't contribute fairly and if you do, don't be a pig.

Get a grip and take some personal responsibility.

Would get everyone to stop bringing everything in and then when he asks where's all the food, just say someone is wolfing it and we're not doing it any more!

Is the fellow ill, or fat, or one of the hidden homeless living in his car and having not enough to eat? Maybe stop bringing stuff if it is pure thoughtlessness.

Is he one of the hidden homeless living in his car and relying on foodbanks, or is he just greedy and thoughtless. If the latter, maybe stop bringing stuff in.

Haven't read all the replies, someone might have already said this, but I'd put a note on things like satsumas, cakes, etc saying "one each please". You shouldn't have to subsidise someone else's food budget.

Is it necessary to put that much food out anyway?

I have a sarnie at work for lunch, but don’t feel the need to snack all day! We bring in treats for special occasions, but not every day.
Maybe it’s an office thing? I don’t work in an office. Maybe that’s for the best as I would be the size of a house, and would probably behave in the same way as the greedy git.

I should add that I would contribute though 😂 no excuse for that. He’s a cf.

I think these things are sort of 'dictated' by the office manager. I used to work in an office (in the council) and the chat throughout the day was all about food. What they'd had for dinner last night, what they were going to have for lunch and what was for their evening meal. Utterly obsessed.

The manager at the time wanted everybody to bring in homecooked 'snacks' every week. Each person to take a turn every day. I think he was negotiated down to once a week but still, it was The LAW according to him.

I didn't want to do it. Didn't want to eat the stuff either so I just said outright that I was excusing myself and bon appetit to everybody else. I wasn't ostracised but it was Noted.

It drove me mad; you couldn't talk about filling a pothole or fixing a traffic light (which is what we were doing) without somebody being reminded of some foodstuff...

I work from home now. Bliss! Office is in London and they don't talk about food. We all hopefully find our best place.

I would tell him to stop being such a greedy guts.

Does your colleague bring in/buy lunch? If not have you thought that instead of being greedy as suggested that they might actually be hungry? Actually a large proportion of people using food banks are actually working and simply not able to afford to eat well after bills/rent. Tbh if this is surplus food that you are bringing in does it really matter who eats it as long as it’s not wasted? As for the lady who takes stuff for her kids, again maybe she isn’t able to afford “treats” for them. Please think why you would bring in spare food and have some generosity of spirit especially at this very expensive time of year