Ah, the office party. That awkward social obligation where we try to mix the unmixable: fun and coworkers. There are several types of office parties, each with its own set of special circumstances to maximize awkwardness and minimize actual fun. The universal terribleness of these gatherings doesn't stop most companies from celebrating birthdays awkwardly with cake and singing, or holidays awkwardly with gift exchanges and forced merriment.
Office parties are ripe for awkward moments.
There are the classic mishaps — someone drinks too much; there's an extremely inappropriate hook-up; an underling speaks too honestly to the boss, etc. But most of us manage to get through unscathed. At best, we stand around crudité platters and make small talk, wondering how much longer we have to stay. At worst, we stand in embarrassing dance circles, wondering how much longer we have to stay.But when it comes to the office party, everyone knows it's all about the food.
Nothing is better than free food at work. When lunch is on them, we're willing to sit through boring trainings with one eye on the cookie tray. However, not all free food is created equal. The worst kind of free office food appears at a potluck. Everyone brings in their "famous" dishes, and we get a glimpse into the private lives of people whose private lives we never wanted to glimpse.Feelings about office potlucks are fairly universal.
@ICanSEEYallTho Work potlucks are the worst. It's like passive aggressive office terrorism— tiger millionaire🐯 (@tiger millionaire🐯)1508431677.0
We have a few beers and finally relent and try Holly from accounting's "famous" bean dip.
When you agree to bring a certain dish to a potluck, you are signing a social contract.
You're agreeing to cook in a clean kitchen, with clean hands. You're agreeing to make food that people like. Food that's easy to eat at a party. And, you're agreeing that the dish you're calling mac and cheese, is, in fact, mac and cheese. This seems obvious, right? But one woman's tweet from her office potluck proves that not everyone complies with these basic tenets.Jan Levinson (@coolstoryjanis) posted this photo to Twitter along with the caption, "Look at the macaroni & cheese my coworker brought to our potluck today. Bruh."
via: Twitter
Mac and cheese is a terrific thing to bring to a potluck. But clearly, this coworker is not from this world. She not only has no idea what mac and cheese is, but she also has no idea that to bring something that is decidedly not mac and cheese — and still call it mac and cheese — is a cardinal potluck sin. Do not mess with mac and cheese.Seriously, what is that? It's just packaged shredded cheese on noodles.
WHY? Is it even warm? Because the cheese definitely isn't melted. Is this two-ingredient mac and cheese? Like, literally just mac and cheese?People were understandably upset by this affront.
I would go home. This Mac n Cheese creates an unsafe work environment. https://t.co/7ROnWdfUPK— Morgan Campbell (@Morgan Campbell)1508429274.0
Everyone had something to say about this, even Oscar-nominated film director Ava DuVernay.
I think you have grounds to file a workplace grievance. https://t.co/Ll31pjxi4o— Ava DuVernay (@Ava DuVernay)1508432262.0
The people are not having it.
Surely this is a fireable offense? I mean, if this person's understanding of mac and cheese is this off, how can they be trusted with important work matters? You just KNOW they "reply all" to group emails.The outrage was swift and widespread.
That's a hate crime. https://t.co/IVIAp7feOm— Britni Danielle (@Britni Danielle)1508430876.0