Do you hate co-workers who ask you to pick up lunch for them when you go on break?

[atszyman]

Demand exact change, and tell them that you're keeping any extra as gas money/tip since you're acting as the delivery service. That should eliminate half who never have change or only have 10s and 20s.

Next purposely confuse who asked for what special treatment.

By the third day you shouldn't be asked again.

Of course I wouldn't expect your co-workers to be the most friendly to you after you do this either.

Another option is to eat a late lunch (if you get a choice of when to go) or simply sneak out when no one is looking, or have your own lunch delivered (you never left so they can't get you there, and you "forgot" to ask anyone before you ordered).

 

[Abstract]

No. They hardly ever go get lunch. They wait at the chance to see if anyone else will go.

Well that changes things. Say no and forget about it.


What happens if nobody goes to get lunch? Surely one of them will eventually concede and go to lunch. Do they get asked to get lunches at that point?

 

[Sun Baked]

Just take a bite of each of the items in the lunch you bring back.

Tell them you are required to do it to ensure quality control on your lunch runs. How it is far easier for you to return the meal at the store than from work.

A couple times of them getting burgers with a bite taken out of them, will prevent them from ever asking again.

 

[NATO]

If I was the OP, I would be very annoyed too. I like to do things my own way, but I'm not the sort of person to openly refuse and end up looking like a grumpy sod.

Best plan is to bring your own lunch and maximise the 30 minutes you have, or eat your lunch where you buy it and come back just in time for lunch ending (assuming you have a fixed lunch break). You could also say you're going somewhere else from where they're wanting to eat from (assuming you have a choice of places to go).

An alternative I might try if I still wanted to be able to go out when I wanted and come back with my own lunch without having to buy for loads of others is to be obtuse and demand the order be sorted out among themselves and written down along with the correct money, ready for you leaving. Knowing that they have to work everything out between themselves in advance might add enough hassle that they'll avoid asking you in future. Make them KNOW that although you're unlikely to refuse, it's more hassle than it's worth getting you to go for them.

 

[SMDrew]

Just stock up on flash-packs and smoke grenades. When they start to ask for the lunch favor, drop one of those and disappear... ninja-style!

 

[vanessavanessa]

Ok. Tell me if you guys can understand where I am coming from and that is it wrong of me to think this way.

For the past 5 years of working at my job which is consisted of a small office with about 6-7 people working with me. I have put of going to lunch numerous times because I do not like people expecting me to ask them if they would like anything when I am about to leave for lunch. It's a 30 minute break that is suppose to be time for me to get away from the office. The last thing I want to deal with is having to remember what everyone wants on their sandwich, what toppings, toasted or not, wheat or white, etc. And then comes the issue of paying. If everyone at my office wanted me to pick up lunch it would be about 6-7 different types of food/combinations. It is a pain in the ass really. Also handling the money for each and everyone. Sigh. I am really fed up with this that I refuse to even take a lunch at all. I starve myself throughout the entire work day just so that I can avoid this.

Does anyone else have the same problem at their work, or is it just me. Can you guys offer any tips or suggestions/advice to what I can do to fix this situation? I really don't know what to do.

This happened to me once and only once, 3 different coworkers plus my order. The second time they said Vanessa will go get the subways again, I frantically responded: I am not eating lunch today. And after that, I just started buying my subway before work, and leaving it in the fridge. Subways are usually open pretty early anyway.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This happened to me once and only once, 3 different coworkers plus my order. The second time they said Vanessa will go get the subways again, I frantically responded: I am not eating lunch today. And after that, I just started buying my subway before work, and leaving it in the fridge. Subways are usually open pretty early anyway.

Hopefully the OP got the lunch situation sorted after 13 years!

But if not, just bring in lunch from home. Costs a fraction of the other options.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Once in awhile for 1 or 2 people isn't a big deal. But I mostly bring my lunch and rarely go out to eat.

 

[dmr727]

I really want to know how this necropost happens. Vanessa does a Google search that somehow comes up with this thread, then creates a MR account just to add her anecdote? I clearly picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

 

[compwiz1202]

Its called delivery.

Even Quiznos delivers now, maybe its only in certain locations but with 7 people ordering they would be delighted to bring it to you.

That was even worse when we did that here. Half the people didn't tip, so you needed to either make it up yourself or be put on a list so they would take forever eventually or blacklist you.

 

[compwiz1202]

This happened to me once and only once, 3 different coworkers plus my order. The second time they said Vanessa will go get the subways again, I frantically responded: I am not eating lunch today. And after that, I just started buying my subway before work, and leaving it in the fridge. Subways are usually open pretty early anyway.

LOL I would never put anything in the fridge. You could put your name on it 20x, and it would still be stolen

 

[compwiz1202]

I really want to know how this necropost happens. Vanessa does a Google search that somehow comes up with this thread, then creates a MR account just to add her anecdote? I clearly picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

At least this is still relevant. Worst is someone comments years later on some tech post with I don't know how to fix this

 

[Apple fanboy]

LOL I would never put anything in the fridge. You could put your name on it 20x, and it would still be stolen

What sort of place do you work in? Alcatraz?
That said I leave mine in a cool bag by my desk. The state of the fridge is disgusting. People leave their food in there for weeks. Yuk.

 

[antiprotest]

Ok. Tell me if you guys can understand where I am coming from and that is it wrong of me to think this way.

For the past 5 years of working at my job which is consisted of a small office with about 6-7 people working with me. I have put of going to lunch numerous times because I do not like people expecting me to ask them if they would like anything when I am about to leave for lunch. It's a 30 minute break that is suppose to be time for me to get away from the office. The last thing I want to deal with is having to remember what everyone wants on their sandwich, what toppings, toasted or not, wheat or white, etc. And then comes the issue of paying. If everyone at my office wanted me to pick up lunch it would be about 6-7 different types of food/combinations. It is a pain in the ass really. Also handling the money for each and everyone. Sigh. I am really fed up with this that I refuse to even take a lunch at all. I starve myself throughout the entire work day just so that I can avoid this.

Does anyone else have the same problem at their work, or is it just me. Can you guys offer any tips or suggestions/advice to what I can do to fix this situation? I really don't know what to do.

OP please come back and give an update.

Since this is a problem that other people still deal with, the thread is still relevant.

I have several suggestions.

1. Lie and say that you have a friend or relative in the hospital, and every time you go out on break it is to visit that person so that you will not have time to get anything else.

2. Get everybody's order wrong every single time. Replace the order with something disgusting, or that a person is severely allergic to, or that is unfathomably spicy.

3. Go to the most expensive place for each person's order and tip at least 30%.

4. Take someone from each person's order and that would be enough to make a full lunch for yourself. So they'd be paying you in food for the labor.

 

[compwiz1202]

What sort of place do you work in? Alcatraz?
That said I leave mine in a cool bag by my desk. The state of the fridge is disgusting. People leave their food in there for weeks. Yuk.

They do at least keep them clean, or they used to. They used to post if you left stuff overnight it would be tossed.