To absolutely hate buffets at work!

[mandyhassandy]

I work in a big organisation where there's a team (or sometime whole department of 50 people) buffet luncheon held for some reason or other every few weeks.. Birthdays, people leaving, retirements, wedding, engagements.. Any excuse to have one really!
The buffets involve everyone having to bring in something to contribute, I usually play it safe with cakes or biscuits but some people really go to town. Some with cook.
I really struggle with the smells of a lot of the stuff. I'm very bland in my eating, and there's a lot I can't/won't eat. So I tend to sit in the sidelines, ideally near the door or an open window just to spare myself some of the dreadful smells/sights Strong pungent smells like garlicy things make me feel ill. Any seeing people handling food without proper serving utensils and sometime grubby hands only adds to my nausea.
These buffets are always pre-arranged and staff are expected to be there. No excuses. We have to keep our diaries free to attend. I feel I can't get out of them and I struggle every time. Being in a confined space (meeting room) for an hour feeling nauseous and queezy, smelling things I wouldn't chose to smell/see is really making me dread work.
Anyone else have this at their workplaces?

Not really, I love a fuddle

Same here. We used to have them now and again in my last job. I enjoyed them.

I think you need to explain to your line manager that you struggle with these lunches and would like to be excused. I’m sure they’ll understand.

Then all afternoon everyones slyly farting away after all the quiche, pizza and pie.

Not exactly but I hate to think where the food is prepared and which of the grubby team has sneezed on the sausage rolls.
I would claim 'allergies' and bring your own pre made food/ say you're not hungry, or be honest.

I've never had a buffet at work but it sounds amazing! Sounds like you have some food and sensory issues. Can you not just pop along for 15 minutes, grab a sandwich and some crisps, say hi to a few key people and then sneak back to your desk?

Could you say you have allergies/or a food intolerance? It sounds like this is really mentally affecting you op? Some people don't like eating things made by people they don't know the hygiene of either, which is fine.

I'll work there. Nothing better than a triangle sandwich.

It’s even more miserable if you have Coeliac disease…

I hate buffets too OP and never eat from them. It gives me the heave to see people touching things and not putting them on their plate or accidentally touching other food items, things like lifting crisps from a bowl etc. I used to always take my own lunch to work buffets and if anyone said anything my retort was always “oh me brining my own lunch leaves more for you then” I’ve yet to hear a reply to that comment.

Sorry but feasting and sharing food is a really key part of just about every culture at every period of history. It’s a core part of celebrating and bringing people together.

i think you just need to recognise that your response is a bit off and manage your behaviour so you can cope but also so as not to be rude.

So you have some kind of smell problem and you hate buffet so no one else should have them?

Not unless she has some diagnosed condition entitling her to special adjustments. If it's a clear expectation that everyone attends I wouldn't expect her to be excused.

Urgh. Can you quit? This sounds disgusting.

You could truthfully tell management that you have multiple food sensitivities and even the smell of some of this food can make you nauseous and headachy. So you can't attend in future. Sorry. End of. I don't see how they can force you to go.

I'm sure they'll excuse her if she vomits

I'm with you @mandyhassandy

Luckily I'm allergic to some pretty ordinary foods so can avoid the situation in the first place

I’m completely with you OP and this would knock me sick 🤣 I hate the smell of other people’s foods and often hate how other people cook.

I’ve never heard of a lunch buffet being as frequent as at your work, sorry you got so unlucky!

I wouldn’t mind about this but to hell if I’m going to eat from homes that I’ve never been in

Far too particular

My company ensured that there was a plate of appropriate food that someone with coeliac disease could eat.

If she was asking to skip meetings that’s one thing, but to mandate lunch is ridiculous. I’d expect any reasonable manager to make small allowances to keep staff happy.

I’ve never even heard of a work environment having multiple lunch time buffets, let alone being invited to one.

I love a buffet so wouldn’t have a problem with the food but I would definitely have a problem with giving up my lunchtime.

It’s unpaid, so that’s my time to do as I please. Go for a walk, drive into town, make calls in my car.

You'll either have to be honest with your boss and say you have an eating disorder or you’ve been diagnosed with an allergy.

Beautful things. Dirty Donna from admin with a knife found in a cupboard washed in lukewarm water slicing up a fridge-cold quiche lorraine from Asdas value range, Susan with the dandruff hunched over a tiger loaf slicing it as if possessed and loading it up with I cant believe its not butter. Then theres old itcy arms Emma peeling the lids off the dips and pouring the fake Doritos into a dusty bowl. Always a few grapes on the side to "make it healthy"

Where I used to work we used to get individual packets of crisps, individually wrapped things where possible. The sandwiches were always close together though. There was also one instance that sticks in my mind where I picked up a piece of quiche, that I thought was made by a close colleague I knew and trusted; she was very hygienic. I bit into it, and it was undercooked soggy dough on the bottom, and the woman who made it (who I did not know) proudly proclaimed it was wrapped in a towel on the back seat of her car. 🤢

The last one we had a kind lady spent a lot of time making smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, only for them to be left uncovered in a meeting room for 3.5 hours prior. The smell was unholy and put me off salmon for life.