I hate potlucks. I hate everything about it. There's nothing morale boosting about having to feed other people in your office, including those peeps you can barely stand. But what's especially aggravating are those peeps who think it's appropriate to run to the sign-up sheet immediately after it is posted to write down "chips" or "veggie sticks". And the SAME people do it over and over and over. And these cheapskates aren't the "low earners" in the office either.
I had to put my foot down the other day. I said, "I'm not participating in a potluck. If you (i.e., management) feel that morale booster is "necessary", let's all pitch in $10 to buy pizza, salad, etc. I am NOT going to subsidize other people's meals, especially to those who regularly only contribute a $1 bag of chips."
Of course, the office cheapskates got huffy. "Well, I shouldn't HAVE to contribute to meat items since I'm a vegetarian!"... "Well, I don't eat as much as others..."... "Ten dollars?? My normal lunch doesn't cost that much!!" Blah, blah, blah.
But this is what P!SSED me off - "Wow. You're so petty, Shtinky."
I'M PETTY? I'm not the one who thinks it's appropriate to bring $1 bag of chips and be the first one at the trough, piling my dish high with salad, pasta salad, mashed potatoes, rolls and dessert that OTHER people brought. I'm usually the one that brings the main dish that I've carefully planned so that (most) everyone can enjoy. I usually spend well OVER $20 to bring enough food for everyone.
The other non-cheapskates in the office secretly cheered me on, but did not publicly back me up. They were "too polite". Or more accurately, they were too "politic".
Since when did it become "petty" to call out people who are cheap? (And again, I'm not talking about the admin staff or other lower wage earners in the office. The cheapskates in my office earn as much or more than I do, are unmarried and are childless.)
It ticks me off that these cheapskates only think about themselves without consideration for what a "potluck" really is meant to be - - the sharing of food. I'm sorry, but vegetarianism is no excuse for such cheapness. You can't make an inexpensive spinach lasagna? You can't throw together a pasta salad? And the fact that you normally don't spend that kind of money for lunch is just plain assinine. You're feeding other people, duh!
I've kept my mouth shut for way too long. I'm SICK of subsidizing other people's meals when they see no need to reciprocate.
Here's a clue to management - if you TRULY believe that potlucks build morale, think again. If you insist on having one, here's another tip: MANAGE the damn events. Don't let the same people shirk their responsibilities over and over and over and burden the same people with the tab.