How to deal with the sharers?

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I work in a school office-very high activity-energy-and very competitive. However, I have been desperately trying to deal with the "sharers". They make or buy goodies and then set them on the "spare" desk in the office. Sometimes, they even do a whole display! This by the way is not THEIR classroom-office-workspace. We have a staff lounge, but nobody takes the food there. A couple of years ago, I took a stand and said "no more food in my work space!" Through some manipulation, I replaced the "spare desk" with filing cabinets. Now, they place the food on top of the cabinets! I've actually picked up the food and taken it to the lounge and then people are all ticked off. My boss is just as bad, he repeatedly fills candy jars on top of the file cabinets attached to my desk. If it were just mints for people to grab as they walked by, it would be fine, but it's chocolate bars, etc. I've hidden the jars and they get replaced. This is sooooo frustrating. Anyone have any ideas?

Netarie

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	I would say if you can, when they arent looking, just throw out the goodies or steal handfuls at a time and throw em out. Soon they will get so mad they will just stop putting them out..Nobody is willing to spend 30 bucks/week on candy for the office. Posted by dimurof82 on Mar. 04, 2009 at 10:31PM
	Will power I say if they want the food out, let em. You do have will power right? I mean It would just make me feel great everytime I said no to the food! I would just worry about yourself and if other people want to eat crap food or candy all day let them. I am not trying to be rude. I have "crap pushers" (that's their name here at my office that I gave them). I understand but why waiste your time. Anywhere you go you are going to see the candy dish or the food so just get some will power and move on to the next thing. Posted by heatherkind on Mar. 10, 2009 at 01:40PM
	Same issue I have the same problem and I finally just had a talk with myself and said "just say no"! I have a huge bowl of chocolate candy on my desk that I have not touched in a week now. I used to eat it all day long, but the bottom line is that it isn't likely to change. Sometimes I think these people do it on purpose. They know I am on a quest to get healthier, but insist on putting the candy on my desk! I understand your frustration! Posted by electra on Mar. 13, 2009 at 06:23AM

	ACK! Today someone brought in a whole pikle of Little Debbie snack cakes. Swiss Rolls, powdered donus etc. Didn't help its been a really bad day, so I let myself have ONE. I emailed the lady who brought them and her response was : "If I can't be skinny I will make all of my friends fat!! lol" Posted by jadielady on Mar. 18, 2009 at 11:52AM
	Bring in Healthy snacks I know it would be costly, but what about bringing in healthy snacks and putting them in place of the junk people bring by. Or you could do a test to see what people actually do. I think when you give people the option of eating healthy food (for free) their guilt will get the best of them. Posted by nats23 on Apr. 07, 2009 at 07:11PM
	Healthy & Sneaky I agree with the suggestion to bring in healthy snacks. And I think you can combine that with the suggestion to just start taking a ton of the unhealthy snacks to keep people in line. I don't think I'd depend on will power - that's what got me where I am today and that isn't an endorsement of will power. I think I'd take the one coworker's response as a challenge. I don't think I'd email back anything specific, but I'd print it out and keep it on my desk for those moments when I was tempted to grab a snack. That's sounds like a challenge to me! :) Of course, if you REALLY want to, print it out and tape a copy to the next candy jar that goes up there. :) Posted by fitbethlin on Jun. 01, 2009 at 08:29PM
	Office spreads I feel your pain. I work in a department that's always rotating people in and out and everytime someone leaves they have a big spread, and it's NEVER anything I can have. People put candy on their desk to attract people. It's like social bait. They put it there so you'll come chat with them. There's nothing you're going to be able to do to stop them from doing this, nor should they. Although I agree that there shouldn't be food shoved in your face in your workspace. Posted by SlackMaster on Jun. 15, 2009 at 12:26PM
	Work food I agree with the large eyebrows above me. It boils down to you personally. You are the one with the problem. Yes, your co-workers should be more understanding and even have a bit more common decency to keep food in the lounge. But in the end, you are the one who has to deal with daily temptations. Posted by Shambo on Jun. 16, 2009 at 08:47AM
	Well... Nice glasses. I thought they didn't allow smiling the matrix Neo... ;-) Posted by SlackMaster on Jun. 16, 2009 at 08:57AM
	a culprit Well, I work with a bunch of really nice folks who love to eat. I was one who kept a candy dish on my desk filled with various types of chocolate including the mini bars. Since I was diagnosed "prediabetic" I realized that was going to have to go. I placed a small sign on it stating, "after this supply is gone, the candy store will close." They all got a kick out of that and when I left work on thursday there were only a few pieces left, which I am sure will be gone when I return on tuesday. I shared my diagnosis with those closest to me and they have been very supportive. They still bring food and set it in the "food court" as we call an empty cubicle, they announce that it is there, so I know to avoid it if I am feeling particularly weak that day. Otherwise, I repeat silently the prayer that I have prayed every day since I was diagnosed, "Thank you God that this condition was found before it had developed any worse. Help me do today what I know to do in order to keep full blown diabetes from taking over my body." BTW, I am looking for motivators, don't exactly know how to get them except to ask, so far no one has taken me up on it.... Posted by Rexie on May. 08, 2010 at 09:33PM