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?

And even if there is anything remotely suitable the greedy buggers who are invariably first in the queue (every single time) have scoffed it.

Yes the entire social experience is unpleasant! Ironically though I quite enjoy picnics, minus the wasps and crap weather.

Oh dear. We have a friend diagnosed in the last few years with Coeliac disease. When we have a party he brings his own food or just eats a banana. I totally understand why and we all just let him get on with it. He trusts one local cafe and eats there sometimes. Doesn't trust others so limits himself to black coffee there. Miserable but less so than the alternative, I'm sure.

Just don't eat it. Circulate for a bit at the start chatting to a few people so that you've shown your face and then slip away.
If there's that many of you in the department would anyone notice if you, say, popped to the loo and then just didn't return until the end?

I agree with this so so strongly. Sharing food is and always has been key to being human. The hygiene obsession of modern society is very damaging to the human fabric, and to individuals, in my view.

Also this. I40 years of working, and this does not ring any chime of recognition

Just don't go if it bothers you so much.

After the next one, phone in sick the next day with sickness and the squits citing it must have been something you ate at the buffet.

Have a chat with HR upon your return and act very concerned about food poisoning and contamination etc.

They'll soon shut it down.

This. Just be a grownup about it. If anyone else asks explain you’re v sensitive to food smells. I’ve worked in loads of places. One place did something like this once as a one off. I think this is a deal breaker for you so stress to manager how uncomfortable you are and say something like “I’d hate this to be the reason I left a job I otherwise enjoy” if you’re not excused, look for new job

Why wreck it for everyone who does enjoy it?! There's no need.

Good, mumsnet really is a different planet sometimes. I had no idea so many people could be so upset by food 😄How do people get through life?

Sounds like a lovely place to work.

Sounds like you need to seek help with your food issues, you admit you only like bland food, you say can't / won't eat - if you have diagnosed allergies then tell your company to get excused but if it's you just being awkward grown up, no one is forcing you to eat and I'm sure if food hygiene was an issue, they wouldn't be having lots!

I am sure no one really cares if you eat or not. Just turn up say hi and have a drink. Then sneak off after a bit. No one will care.

I don't take part in work buffets, or any other buffets, I'm too funny about food hygiene. I usually take something, like biscuits to be polite but I don't eat, all my colleagues know this about me and no one cares. It seems unreasonable that you are forced to attend the buffets!

I, as a full grown adult just don’t eat the buffet food, as it’s my choice and no one else gives a shit or probably even notice’s.

I'm with you. I hate these. I don't want to eat work home cooking experiments. All the fingers in the food. The stenches. Just yuck. I found saying sensitive tummy works for all but the most obtuse (we have her so you're spared).

Don’t be ridiculous. It’s wholly unreasonable to expect anyone to eat something they don’t want to. A fuddle should be optional, and considerate of everyone in the team.

OP should either explain that she can’t deal with them, or if her colleagues are unimaginative dullards and won’t be considerate she could say that pretty much everything is setting off her migraines at the moment so she’ll eat separately.

I was probably lucky. If we brought stuff in it wasn't allowed to be home made. It had to be shop bought and wrapped. Anything such as sandwiches were made on the premises and the staff involved in making them had to have a food hygiene certificate, paid for by the company.

They will see through it when nobody else is claiming to be ill.
Most of her colleagues probably enjoy the food and the get togethers. It's a nice thing to do.
There's always one fuss pot who sits in the corner, saying they aren't hungry, each to their own, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to miss out.

And to add to what someone posted downthread- we had a vegan celiac who was then presented with her own special giant meal like a gift and expected to eat it! So you can't even get out of it easily with dietary needs 🙄

I don’t mind a buffet usually. I know they aren’t the most hygienic with people touching things with dirty hands etc so I make sure I get there pretty early on in the queue 🤣 I don’t have an aversion to most smells either unless it’s a strong fishy odour or something but I can usually cope. However, I think I’d draw the line at food being brought from home and cooked by random colleagues as you don’t know how hygienic their food preparation /kitchen is to start with, so I see why this puts you off as it would me. I’d either be honest or say you’ve developed allergies

Every few weeks!!!!?

No, absolutely not that would drive me round the bend.

There are loads of MH issues that cause anxiety about foods, I don't think you can call people fusspots who aren't comfortable being forced to take part

I have to say, you make the work buffet sound amazing.

That said, what I do object to is anything that I categorise as "enforced fun". I have a line that I have used a few times with colleagues that I can get away with it with, that my employer literally has to pay me to spend time with them for work, and I don't feel obligated to participate in anything else unless I choose to.

I very rarely choose to. It's understood.

Leaving half a breadstick sticking out the leftovers as a final fuck you to the coeliacs, usually.