Do you complain about free food?

[Exterous]

The company I work for it taking the last project group I was a part of out to lunch at a fancy-ish restaurant for a job well done. I've never heard so much goddamn bellyaching over a free meal in my life.

"They serve veal? I am not going there!"
"No pasta on the menu?"
"I can't believe they picked a place with all this (fresh) seafood. I don't like seafood"
"Whats with all the vegetarian options? I'm not a rabbit"

Bunch of damn spoiled whiners. Maybe people are just used to the expansive menus from places like Applebees, TGIF etc instead of someplace that has a smaller menu based on what they can get fresh. But seriously - its FREE. Branch out and try something new if you have to like the Pan Seared Salmon with Tomato, olive and Feta Relish or the Blackened Shrimp and Feta Grits or the Confit of Duck leg. Hell I'm not a vegetarian but the Glazed Garlic Cauliflower dish actually sounds insteresting

 

[ultimatebob]

Some people just like to bitch and complain. Don't go to lunch with them whenever possible... they'll just piss you off and ruin your meal.

 

[OverVolt]

Well you would want the free meal to have as wide of an appeal as possible.

 

[keird]

In the Army we fed people chili macaroni. If they didn't like it they were provided a bottle of Tabasco sauce and maybe some Koolaid and iceberg lettuce.

 

[slayer202]

people will eat shit on bread if you tell them it's free lunch

 

[dank69]

Sounds like a few slaps are in order.

 

[SunnyD]

I complain about the lack of free food.

 

[kranky]

Well you would want the free meal to have as wide of an appeal as possible.

Agreed. People shouldn't complain, but that's not the occasion for a niche restaurant. I am not going to really enjoy being treated to a meal if I have to eat something I don't want.

 

[woodman1999]

Sure do. My company brings in lunch for all 70 of us on Friday's in order to get people to take a break and talk to each other during lunch. Problem is, for 70 people, their budget is about $500, which in NYC is not a lot of money per person. Thus, they usually bring in a lot of crappy, bulk food which makes my stomach turn. So yeah, in this case, I do complain that the budget is bullshit and if you want me to eat it, get better food.

Free food doesn't equal good food.

 

[rh71]

It's very inconsiderate to send people to a seafood restaurant where they serve insects of the ocean in various states of dismemberment. But g'damnit I'll just have the chicken.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Do you complain about free food?

All the time. I am not some starving orphan in Africa that doesn't have options.

 

[dank69]

Sure do. My company brings in lunch for all 70 of us on Friday's in order to get people to take a break and talk to each other during lunch. Problem is, for 70 people, their budget is about $500, which in NYC is not a lot of money per person. Thus, they usually bring in a lot of crappy, bulk food which makes my stomach turn. So yeah, in this case, I do complain that the budget is bullshit and if you want me to eat it, get better food.

Free food doesn't equal good food.

Doesn't matter. If you don't like it don't eat it. The only way you would be entitled to complain is if they were somehow forcing you to eat it or stopping you from eating your own food.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I would never complain about free food. If I didn't like it I would just pay for something I did like and chalk it up to bad luck. Maybe next time it'll be something I do like. Either way I'm no worse off than I started since my default expectation is that I should have to pay for all my food anyway.

I think level of expectation is the problem with the people who do complain though. They have actually factored free food into their baseline standard of living. If some portion of their food isn't free, they're genuinely disappointed. To them free food is no longer a gracious and unexpected gesture, but something so commonplace as to be open for criticism, so it's only natural that they complain about it.

 

[woodman1999]

Doesn't matter. If you don't like it don't eat it. The only way you would be entitled to complain is if they were somehow forcing you to eat it or stopping you from eating your own food.

It's being taken into account during my mid year and end of the year review and generally affecting my compensation as they say that because I don't eat it, I'm not a team player. So yeah, while they may not be physically forcing me, they are doing what they can to influence my decision making.

And to Slithery's comment, I never factor in free food to my baseline. I pay for my food and my families food with my own money. I do not get any kind of welfare or anything even remotely resembling a subsidy.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Some people just like to bitch and complain. Don't go to lunch with them whenever possible... they'll just piss you off and ruin your meal.

That is so true dude, I have a mental list of people I'll never eat with again.

 

[dank69]

It's being taken into account during my mid year and end of the year review and generally affecting my compensation as they say that because I don't eat it, I'm not a team player. So yeah, while they may not be physically forcing me, they are doing what they can to influence my decision making.

And to Slithery's comment, I never factor in free food to my baseline. I pay for my food and my families food with my own money. I do not get any kind of welfare or anything even remotely resembling a subsidy.

Are you allowed to bring your own food to eat?

 

[SlitheryDee]

It's being taken into account during my mid year and end of the year review and generally affecting my compensation as they say that because I don't eat it, I'm not a team player. So yeah, while they may not be physically forcing me, they are doing what they can to influence my decision making.

And to Slithery's comment, I never factor in free food to my baseline. I pay for my food and my families food with my own money. I do not get any kind of welfare or anything even remotely resembling a subsidy.

Your co-workers are taking an idiotic stance on that one then. In your situation it seems like it's still best to not complain though. If you have to eat the food to stay in their good graces anyway, why detract from the good will you earn with that gesture by complaining? If you're going to do something you don't want to do, you might as well get all the equity you can out of it.

 

[woodman1999]

Are you allowed to bring your own food to eat?

Yes, and I usually (but not always) do.

Your co-workers are taking an idiotic stance on that one then. In your situation it seems like it's still best to not complain though. If you have to eat the food to stay in their good graces anyway, why detract from the good will you earn with that gesture by complaining? If you're going to do something you don't want to do, you might as well get all the equity you can out of it.

I bring my own food on occasion, but the fact of the matter is, I'd rather sit at my desk on Friday's during the summer so I can get my stuff done and be able to leave an hour earlier to be home with the family sooner. To me, family time is so much more important than any job could ever be. It also doesn't help that I have been at the same company for almost 10 years and frankly, I have had quite enough of the Kool-Aid.

 

[ElFenix]

Tomato, olive and Feta Relish

so... a greek salad?

 

[Ketchup]

No, I don't complain. I see it as a "giving" gesture on the part of the company. If you are a picky eater, you (should) know you are, so don't even bother going to such things, especially if you know where you are going beforehand.

In your case, it was probably more like: "I need someone to tell me what a wonderful person I am, even though I know I am going to hate where we are going."

 

[Exterous]

Just got back and the food was, generally, very good. Excellent bread pudding

It's very inconsiderate to send people to a seafood restaurant where they serve insects of the ocean in various states of dismemberment. But g'damnit I'll just have the chicken.

Its not a seafood restaurant - its a restaurant that also serves seafood - in addition to the chicken

All the time. I am not some starving orphan in Africa that doesn't have options.

Whats the point of complaining though? (And making a suggestion or request for future change of venue is different) You weren't expecting it and it doesn't cost you anything so just don't go if you don't like the menu options

Agreed. People shouldn't complain, but that's not the occasion for a niche restaurant.

The options I listed weren't the only ones. Its not like there were only 3 main course dishes or anything

 

[purbeast0]

im a fan of places with small focused menus rather than shit like the cheesecake factory where their menu is a damn text book. fuck that noise.

free or not, i'd complain if the food sucked. if it was a place i didn't like (such as an indian restaurant) i simply would not go.

 

[Ns1]

I only complain about shitty food.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Anyone who complains about a company provided meal is an asshole. The only scenario I can think that its marginally appropriate is you are off site or somewhere you cannot bring or buy your own and the meal provided is complete crap. Then the interest is telling whoever paid for it the meal was crap.
I've heard this so many times in my career I cannot stand it any longer. Some of the stuff I've heard:
morning meeting (this food was usually out of my pocket) I hate bagels or I don't like these doughnuts or what no milk for my coffee
I can only have two slices of pizza
I have to wait for everyone to get a serving before I can have more (someone asked me this once)
plus the endless suggestion of getting a meal from a high end restaurant in the area
Susan took the last cookie I wanted that go tell her for me (yes I heard this too)

 

[FeuerFrei]

When you're receiving a reward you automatically expect it to be something you will enjoy. If it proves otherwise, you are a sad panda. Complaints will follow.