Certain people might not be comfortable eating their coworker’s prepared food. These workplace scenarios can make people uncomfortable or rub people the wrong way. 4) Cultural SensitivityĪs diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives become more popular, the office potluck is on the hot seat. Employees risk general sickness, food allergies, and more if their co-workers fail to wash, handle and prepare food properly. 3) General Food SafetyĪside from food-borne illnesses, do we really trust coworkers to follow safety guidelines and protocols in their own kitchen? There’s no way to monitor or track cleanliness. It’s an extreme example but should employees be put into the position of trusting their coworkers with food safety protocols or being labeled rude for turning down food? It's an unnecessary risk, especially with COVID, when there are safer alternatives for sharing a meal. More than twenty people are sent to the hospital.Residents of Lancaster, Ohio faced this exact scenario in 2015 following a church potluck. However it turns out that Charlie used home-canned potatoes for his potato salad, and there’s an outbreak of Botulism. The office chows down on the labor of love brought in by their trusted co-workers. 2) Food-borne Illnessīonnie’s cookies, Charlie's potato salad, Alex's casserole. Ultimately, these issues become a burden to manage and cause unnecessary tension. Office managers can address these issues with a Potluck Manifesto, perhaps a medieval-themed scroll clipped to the office fridge.

Is there enough room in the fridge? What about plates and silverware?.

What are the rules for store bought food?.

If someone is unable to cook, should they participate?.

Who should cook and how much food should they provide? Enough for everyone, or enough for a few?.

Consider the unanswered questions at every potluck. The first problem with the office potluck is the ambiguity.

We’ve compiled 9 reasons why the office potluck should go the route of handshakes and paper menus, casualties of COVID-19. This is just one example of how office potlucks can go wrong. Some attendees did not appreciate the humor. One dish was labeled, “deep fried fetus.”Įmployees thought the dish was some form of dumplings, but it was actually balut - a literal deep fried fetus. One friend told me about a Halloween-themed potluck where the dishes had spooky names like bite-sized eyeballs and ghouly gingerbread. Dreaded by many, loved by some, the office potluck is a historic tradition.

Potluck or pot luck