I have told my bosses about my CD (several times now) and they keep saying, "Oh! So sorry, next time we'll make sure to get you something." One of the pizza places they go to has a really good gluten free pizza, which I only found out about after one of these lunch organizers said, "Oh you can't eat pizza? We should have gotten you one of their gluten free pizzas!" So I keep thinking the issue is addressed and then it turns out it isn't, so I guess I was just looking for ideas on how to bring it up with them to make sure it stops happening.
Next time they send out a lunch meeting invite, I'll just ask if there will be a GF option or if I should bring my own lunch.
Thanks for the input, everyone!
Defintely say something to the person who orders it. I work in an office of about 50 people. ONE person is a vegetarian - when we have firm-wide office meetings, there is always a veggie option. ALWAYS. It's really not an unreasonable request - it's not like you asked them for something else because you don't like something - you have a dietary restriction due to a medical issue.
Even our local pizza place in podunk Louisiana has gluten-free pizzas these days and they certainly have salads. If you haven't made it known that it's Celiac and not pride or a diet that's preventing you from eating the pizza you should mention it to who places the food orders.
I have told my bosses about my CD (several times now) and they keep saying, "Oh! So sorry, next time we'll make sure to get you something." One of the pizza places they go to has a really good gluten free pizza, which I only found out about after one of these lunch organizers said, "Oh you can't eat pizza? We should have gotten you one of their gluten free pizzas!" So I keep thinking the issue is addressed and then it turns out it isn't, so I guess I was just looking for ideas on how to bring it up with them to make sure it stops happening.
Next time they send out a lunch meeting invite, I'll just ask if there will be a GF option or if I should bring my own lunch.
Thanks for the input, everyone!
Speak directly with the person in charge of placing the order and remind him/her that your request has already been approved. And if THAT doesn't work, volunteer to call the place directly and add it to your order.
And as someone who loves several people with Celiac, remember - you're not just advocating for yourself, you're advocating for every single person with a food sensitivity. Please speak up.
I have told my bosses about my CD (several times now) and they keep saying, "Oh! So sorry, next time we'll make sure to get you something." One of the pizza places they go to has a really good gluten free pizza, which I only found out about after one of these lunch organizers said, "Oh you can't eat pizza? We should have gotten you one of their gluten free pizzas!" So I keep thinking the issue is addressed and then it turns out it isn't, so I guess I was just looking for ideas on how to bring it up with them to make sure it stops happening.
Next time they send out a lunch meeting invite, I'll just ask if there will be a GF option or if I should bring my own lunch.
Thanks for the input, everyone!
Do the bosses order the food or does a secretary? I'm wondering if they are forgetting to relay the info to whoever orders the food so it doesn't happen. If so maybe skip the boss and go to the person placing the order.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Post by mumofcharlie on Oct 30, 2013 15:03:40 GMT -5
Sorry if this comes across as snarky, but if other employees were assertive enough to say what pizza they liked and going to multiple places to get pizza, you need to be assertive enough to say something about the pizza that YOU like.
Or if you know the pizza places, you can call and have a salad or GF pizza added to the order for XYZ company/person and let the person ordering know you are/will be placing an order for what your dietary restrictions will allow you to eat and having it added to the tab.
If someone were to ask what I wanted, I'd ask for a salad. Otherwise I don't think I'd say anything.
This.
They are providing food as a courtesy. If you ask for special consideration- even though it is a minor request, IMHO- there is the potential they'll stop this practice which could make you very unpopular.
If you know in advance and can find out where they're ordering from, you could always order your own salad to be delivered at the same time.
Do people actually still have secretaries who arrange food? I thought that was why God made interns.
Most of the times I know when the meetings are, so I just bring something or eat before/after. Sometimes they are last minute, which is really crappy when I was planning on hopping out for lunch. I definitely don't go without, but it's just annoying to me that they'll remember that so-and-so likes bbq pizza and make an extra effort to accommodate that, but I've told them multiple times what I can't eat and they just don't seem to care.
But whatever, I'll just have to keep on them to remember.
You need to stop assuming that they'll remember on their own and make a point to remind them right before they order the food. Since you haven't been assertive about it yet, they haven't had a chance to realize how important this is (which they probably never will since they don't have food allergies). You said yourself that you are new. You need to get over being sad that they don't care enough to remember (which is honestly really lame) and speak up for yourself. As others said, tell, don't meekly ask after the fact and then be hurt they forgot. Seriously! This drives me nuts when people are all woe is me when they don't bother to speak up for themselves!
I realize you don't always have advanced notice, but when you do, find out who is ordering and assert yourself instead of just sitting there, not eating anything and waiting for them to notice. You realize that's really sad, right?
Do they usually go around asking what people want? (ie, pizza toppings, or sandwich types) If so, I would speak up at that point and ask if they could order a salad too.
If it is someone I work with frequently and know, then yes.
My actual boss never remembers and is always asking me why I don't eat xyz, but our program assistant (who does the ordering for almost everything) knows and always remembers to get at least a little something for me.
I usually don't say anything when it is a single occurrence, someone I don't actually work with (outside person) or if I go elsewhere.
Next time just remind them again before the ordering. Once they have ordered for you, they will probably remember having done it and do it again next time.
Sorry if this comes across as snarky, but if other employees were assertive enough to say what pizza they liked and going to multiple places to get pizza, you need to be assertive enough to say something about the pizza that YOU like.
It's less assertiveness and more familiarity. I'm the new guy. These people all know each other and know what they like.
And again, I have told them several times what I can and cannot eat.
The underlying tone in all your posts is that they should remember your dietary restrictions. That everyone else is friends and they remember "Sally likes eggplant" but don't care enough to remember what you need. You have to realize, no one is going to care as much about your dietary restrictions as you have to. I get it, celiac is hard. But you Either have to be assertive and ask for what you need (and maybe remind them every time) or get over being annoyed that they don't accommodate you.