Company hosted Potluck - update 12/19

[Wendy31]

I know I usually always did.



I really wish I could. My boss is pretty firm on the date. I would honestly, rather it not be a "dinner" but a simpler gathering with appetizers & snacks.

Don't you love it when the boss gets stubborn about something?

And I completely understand - you're having to work within the parameters of what your boss wants & trying to organize & prepare as best as you can. And I know a lot of these posts come across as criticisms.

Is the company paying you for the spaghetti, salad, & rolls? Are you having to prepare the items? If so, depending on the number of people you're planning for, you might compare the costs of spaghetti/salad/rolls to ordering 2-3 spiral-sliced hams which would be so much easier on you!

 

[DopeyDame]

This happens a lot, as people tend to respond before reading an entire thread! (and in the time it took to post this, someone else suggested calling a caterer...)

I think this sounds like a fun party and I'd make time in my schedule to attend. Send out a sign-up sheet with specifics on it: Main dish/casserole, side dish, veggie, dessert. Remind people to make/bring enough to serve about 8 people. You'll know if you have enough food by the number of folks who sign up. My guess is that employees of a brewery will HAPPILY attend a company holiday potluck if their own product is being served! (and that's not a jibe. We have 3 microbreweries here in town, and the employees are always the nicest people, and the breweries best spokespeople!)

I don't think people are suggesting calling a caterer because we didn't read the thread, but because we're gently trying to suggest other options that might be better than the spaghetti, salad, and bread that the OP is preparing.

 

[AndreaDM]

Yeah, I don't think spaghetti at all when I think potluck. It's a rare occasion I don't end up with pasta all down the front of my shirt!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We do a potluck in my office but it's just among the employees (about 10 of us between schedulers, secretaries and RNs). Us girls get together, pick a day, pick what we are bringing and roll with it. This year we are doing our gift exchange and wearing ugly sweaters.

I wouldn't want to go to a company hosted pot luck. It's basically the company throwing you a "party" but making you do the work and pay for it. No thanks!

Luckily I work for a huge healthcare system and they provide a holiday breakfast/luncheon/dinner that is system wide depending on your shift. The department I work for also throws their own Holiday party that is paid for by the surgeons. Catered food, lots of drinks, music, etc. They invite the staff, OR staff, vendors, reps, etc.

 

[gotomu212]

Honestly, I expect most people to go home before the head to the Ale House. They get off between 4 - 4:30 most days and some won't even be working that day. No one shows up at the start of it anyway. I expect most will show up between 5:30 - 6. For cold foods we have a huge refrigerated warehouse.?

I’m so confused by this. If it’s a potluck the food needs to get there around the same time. It sounds like you expect people to be bringing food in an hour after the party starts and mixing it with food that’s been sitting out and serving from for an hour.

Does everyone live close to work? Just to drive across our suburb town takes me 20-30 minutes so leaving work and going home just to turn around again would be weird. If spouses are also going, aren’t they going t have to wait until they get off work too?

I really really am not trying to be negative but this just seems like a logistical cluster to have food trickling in and a party where there might only be 10 people sitting around for an hour until everyone else arrives. Maybe push the time back a little or say explicitly we’ll eat at 7 please have your dish here by then?

 

[Southernmiss]

What type of main dish(es) would you expect at a Company Potluck?

The facility we are having it at does not have a kitchen, so any food prep would have to be done at home (my house). I am the first to admit that I am not much of a cook. So my initial thought is Spaghetti, with frozen meatballs (on the side), salad and rolls. All is cheap & easy.

Are you prepared to make spaghetti for 70 or so people at your home? This is what leads me to keep saying have something catered in.

I cook, but I would not be comfortable with making a main dish for 70 people and then transport it in to the place of the party.

I know it seems I am trying to be harsh, but I am not. I know you want the event to be a success and the things that I have questioned came to mind really easily, so I think for others in your company, those would be questions for them, too as attendees.

 

[Southernmiss]

The company is a brewery so I imagine providing the drinks means more 'write off' than 'expense.'

OP, maybe if you tell us the budget people will be able to give catering or other options that they know to be doable for that amount.

Probably this. My brother works for a beer distributor. Employees can buy close to out of date beer (that their vendors can't sell) cheaply in the warehouse. I could see a craft brewery doing something similar.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I don't think people are suggesting calling a caterer because we didn't read the thread, but because we're gently trying to suggest other options that might be better than the spaghetti, salad, and bread that the OP is preparing.

Not to mention, a heck of a lot less work for the OP! I'm sure she doesn't want the burden of preparing all this food for a work party three days before Christmas. Surely she's got enough cooking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, etc. things to do for her own family to want to deal with this in the "crunch time" lead up to Christmas.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

OP- How many upper management employees do you have? Can you guys get together and split the cost of the party? At least the catering portion.

 

[disneychrista]

Turkeys are cheap this time of year. If you're willing to do spaghetti then a turkey instead shouldn't be a problem. And, quite, frankly, seems like it would be less work.

I have never successfully cooked a Turkey. I can boil water though

 

[DopeyDame]

I have never successfully cooked a Turkey. I can boil water though

That's why a precooked spiral ham would be a great option. No cooking on your part, it can be served hot or room temperature, and is neat and easy for people to eat.

 

[disneychrista]

Is the company paying you for the spaghetti, salad, & rolls?

Yes the company will be buying any / all food that is not provided by those attending the pot luck. I will be picking it up, preparing and bringing it in. Honestly, I would rather not cook for 60 people.

OP- How many upper management employees do you have? Can you guys get together and split the cost of the party? At least the catering portion.

We are in a period of restructuring (hence the limited budget) and only have one person who I would call "upper management" and 5 others who are management. I am management and honestly NOT willing to pay for this. I am already giving my time ( likely 5+ hours after normal working hours) that is enough. I would much rather take a small budget buy appetizers / snacks have the party from 4 - 6 and send everyone home for dinner.

 

[morgan98]

We are in a period of restructuring (hence the limited budget) and only have one person who I would call "upper management" and 5 others who are management. I am management and honestly NOT willing to pay for this. I am already giving my time ( likely 5+ hours after normal working hours) that is enough. I would much rather take a small budget buy appetizers / snacks have the party from 4 - 6 and send everyone home for dinner.

OP, really not picking on you at all, but this is probably how others feel too. They are also giving 5+ hours of time after work and during a generally very busy time right before the holidays. I am sure the non management employees feel the same way. Unless you are all best friends of love each other's company, I honestly do no think this is a "party" or a "perk."

Is there anyway to gently give this feedback to the member of upper management. Sometimes people at different levels look at things very differently and need to see/hear a different perspective.

 

[disneychrista]

OP, really not picking on you at all, but this is probably how others feel too. They are also giving 5+ hours of time after work and during a generally very busy time right before the holidays.

Yes they get to socialize, drink , eat, etc (if they choose, again if they don't want to attend they don't have to). Yes, it is after hours and likely on a day where most the employees haven't even worked. I get to WORK the entire time. Guess who gets to serve everyone the entire party? Who has to shop, set it all up, etc. After everyone leave guess who gets to clean up the mess they left behind? Yep ME! I would much rather get to drink a few beers, eat some food, socialize with co-workers etc.


I have been happy that we haven't done this the last couple years. It is always way more work than fun for me, even when I didn't have the burden of having to figure out the food on a very limited budget.

 

[quandrea]

I'd be telling my boss as diplomatically as possible that there is no way I'll be cooking spaghetti, salad and rolls for sixty to seventy. Surely chef isn't in your job description.

I think the pot luck is a really bad idea. This sort of thing can be easily arranged with a call to a caterer. As an employee, I'd have no interest in cooking for a potluck or attending said potluck after hours on the Friday before Christmas. I think this idea needs a reboot.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

OP, really not picking on you at all, but this is probably how others feel too. They are also giving 5+ hours of time after work and during a generally very busy time right before the holidays. I am sure the non management employees feel the same way. Unless you are all best friends of love each other's company, I honestly do no think this is a "party" or a "perk."

Is there anyway to gently give this feedback to the member of upper management. Sometimes people at different levels look at things very differently and need to see/hear a different perspective.

I agree.

If that's the case just have a happy hour at a local place and let everyone pay for their own stuff. I would rather do that than buy food and cook it. That's why these types of things end up with tons of chips, cookies, soda, etc.

I get along great with my coworkers but the only reason I go to the big holiday party (and I like the people I work with) is because everything is done. We just show up and enjoy ourselves. The docs take care of everything.

 

[quandrea]

Yes they get to socialize, drink , eat, etc (if they choose, again if they don't want to attend they don't have to). Yes, it is after hours and likely on a day where most the employees haven't even worked. I get to WORK the entire time. Guess who gets to serve everyone the entire party? Who has to shop, set it all up, etc. After everyone leave guess who gets to clean up the mess they left behind? Yep ME! I would much rather get to drink a few beers, eat some food, socialize with co-workers etc.


I have been happy that we haven't done this the last couple years. It is always way more work than fun for me, even when I didn't have the burden of having to figure out the food on a very limited budget.

This seems wickedly unfair and inappropriate. I can see arranging a caterer and overseeing an event, but having to serve and do clean up duty. You're not a caterer! Really inappropriate. Good luck with it. I feel bad that you are in such a tough spot.

 

[Minnesota!]

Here is what I would do (and have done for gatherings…)..

Call your local butcher/meat shop.

Tell them you need enough (sliced beef, pulled pork, shredded beef…take your pick) for XX amount of people.

They will take care of it. You go pick it up the day before the gathering. The next day, bring it and a huge roaster or multiple crockpots to work. Throw the meat in there and warm all day. Provide buns, cheese, condiments.

Also a large veggie, antipasto, fruit, whatever platter.

Have everyone else fill in the “easy” stuff – chips/dip, desserts, side salads, mac n cheese, (that can easily be picked up by them from the local deli).

I typically get about 25 people’s worth of meat for about $90. Add in buns from Costco, the condiments, cheese, and the platters and you are looking at about $200.

I think that is well worth not having to make gobs of spaghetti..

 

[Wishing on a star]

DisneyChrista...
Who's idea is this?
This does not sound appropriate towards you, at all. And seems to be setting up a train-wreck.
Can you 'just say NO'.

I do understand that you have the very best of intentions!!!!
I am just trying to understand and to parse all of this out.

You had said, something inexpensive (cheap) or nothing at all.

To be honest, the more I hear, the more I would go with nothing at all.

Your thread is titled "Company Hosted Pot-Luck"
In reality, the company does not seem to be willing to host, or provide, anything.

I would not make this a DisneyChrista hosted 'how do I find a way out of coming' kind of thing.

 

[gotomu212]

Have you googled how much spaghetti it takes to feed 50-60 people? We’ve had to cook at church spaghetti dinners and even with a commercial kitchen it’s hard getting pounds and pounds of spaghetti made. How are you going to do that at home and then how are you going to keep it warm until you serve it?

One other suggestion- if people are bringing spouses and kids make sure they are signing up for extra stuff or making twice the normal amount since typical workplace potlucks have one dish per person (if someone signs up for chips and brings 1 bag for 50 people you’re in trouble).

Could you talk to your boss and explain that there’s no way you can personally cook for that many people unless you do a bigger meat (buy cooked turkeys, hams, or a roast— also you need about 40-50 lbs of meat and that’s assuming there are a lot of sides) and that you are worried about having sufficient food for so many people....then ask him what HE plans to do if you don’t have enough food?