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Ask HN: How to handle catered lunch perk directed at specific group of employees
The satellite office I work at here in San Jose recently began a dedicated, twice-a-week catered lunch program. Before, this had mostly been an adhoc thing where the people in the office itself had ordered food/expensed it.
The issue I have is that I found out the proteins that will be included week-to-week will consist of only chicken or vegan/vegetarian options. No beef, lamb, pork, etc.
According to an office administrator this is because people in the office are either vegetarian or "chicken only".
I think having a free occasional meal perk is nice and I appreciate that we have one in the first place as some don't, etc. But personally I have some allergy-type issues concerning chicken (food hypersensitivity is the only real term to describe it), so I mostly avoid it except when there's absolutely nothing else and no time to get food elsewhere. And even so, having variety is nice.
But it seems like the protein options are the way they are based on the employees here at the office.
I get that employees aren't required to take advantage of perks, but when said perks are specifically for a subgroup of coworkers within the office it's a little frustrating..
What should I do?
- matt_the_bass 8y agoMaybe this is a little gruff but politely tell the office admin that you have a chicken sensitivity and eat the veggietarian. You apparently are the only person in that office that is t happy with the arrangement. Perhaps after a few weeks you could request a change of menu.
- officeperks59 8y agoActually, my entire team feels the same as well as at least a couple other coworkers in the org who work out of this office. But yes, I was told 'everybody' in this office is chicken/veggie only. I don't think a poll or survey ever went out about it unfortunately. But I might try emailing the office admin and see what happens.
- matt_the_bass 8y agoMaybe ask what the budget is and then propose additional choices that meet the budget. This way you save work for admin so perhaps easier to make it happen.