PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

This past weekend I was entertaining a former co-worker and we discussed the candy dish on my desk in the old department, where our superviser would eat ALL the candy and I finally stopped putting candy in the dish. In my present position, I found a dish and some hard candy that had clearly been bought from our office supply catalogue, so I continued to obtain the candy that way, as no one has ever objected to my buying it there. My co-workers eat the candy, not me (I have maybe one piece per week). My husband remarked that the candy dish must be a local thing, because in all the places he's lived (US and Canada) he'd never seen candy dishes on anyone's desk!

So I told him I'd check with admins all over the world: Do you or do other admins in your area have a candy dish? What's in it, and who eats the candy?

No.  Tried that once and we had a few abusers, so I refuse to.  Too expensive.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

Yes, I have a candy dish on my desk, but you can't see it from the door of my office.  Folks who have business with my bosses will see it as they pass my desk.  I keep Wintergreen Lifesavers in it.  Some folks will take one to freshen up their breath before a meeting.  I only have one person who just stops in just to get a piece of candy.  A while back, he brought me a big bag of Wintergreen Lifesavers to replace those he's eaten.  

My candy dish was given to me by my first boss in this job, so I have kept it on my desk.  I had another boss who would toss in a quarter or whatever every time he took a piece of candy.  That helped me keep it full.

I don't eat the candy on my desk.  If I ever eat one, I'll eat the whole bowl.  



JusPeachy

 I used to have a sweetie-jar in my cupboard in my office with humbugs, chocolate limes, pear drops, rhubarb-and-custard-drops, coconut mushrooms, fruit bonbons and other delights in it.  They lasted a long time, but I don't have sweets very often.  As an office, we tend to buy cakes for tea now and then instead of sweets.

Raindance

I used to have one; I actually used to change the dish/container to coincide with seaons and holidays (ex. a plastic jack o'lantern for Halloween).  I used to fill it mostly with chocolate (purchased at discount prices after holidays!) or tootsie rolls or something that came individually wrapped (people tended to dig through the container and as we all know, not everyone has the cleanest hands :)

I stopped doing it for two reasons: 1. I was eating way too much of it, and, 2. it was getting too expensive.  There are always those people who came and grab a handful of candy, but never help to replenish the supply!

Oh, and I'm in the Philadelphia, PA metro area.

:)
Joyce

My candy dish also matches the season, right now I have a flower one for the summer.  My office is in the very back so there's not a lot of foot traffic, I joke that keep the candy there so people will come visit me.  I know what kind of candy each of the guys I work with likes and make sure to buy those kinds.  I did have a couple guys that were emptying the dish a little too much, I made a gentle remark in regards to the fact that I was buying the candy myself, I didn't expense it, and they backed off.

I've got a "secret stash".  It's actually assorted chocolates (individually wrapped) that I keep on hand for when I do a bi-weekly presentation at our new employee orientation.  (The poor folks have been sitting in there for 5 hours by the time I get there, so I pass the basket of chocolates as an attention-getter/pick-me-up.)

I keep it in my closet, behind a closed door so I can't see it.  (Out of sight, out of mind!)  Since it's bought for the presentation, I'm allowed to expense it.  But a few people (bossie included) know it's there and will nip in for a piece now and then.  I figure the number of people at orientation numbers anywhere from 40 - 100 so the three to five people who might take a piece once or twice a week is barely a drop in the bucket.  Sometimes you can tell when someone's having a rough day and it's nice to be able to offer them a little something

Is this a North American thing?  No, never had a candy dish on my desk (probably helps that I don't have a sweet tooth!) and I don't think I've ever seen one in all my years (ouch) working in an office.

I'm UK-based (but you can probably tell that by the accent ) ...

I do think it's a great idea, though!

Michigan here...

Yes, I have a candy dish on my desk.  It started because one day for a pick me up gift, my boyfriend and daughter gave me a large (and I mean LARGE) jar filled with peanut m&ms, snack size candy bars, mints, etc.  Once that was empty (I kept it off my counter, so someone had to ask - not just dig in), my bf would buy me bags of peanut m&ms to keep it filled.  Well... it became apparent, boss and I were going through it too quick.  So I got rid of that jar, and went to a basket on my counter filled with hard candies (no chocolate).

When I moved to my current area - I was in a less traffic area, and team members would walk over just to dig into the candy basket.  I finally put an end to filling the basket because on more than one occassion I would get remarks when it was low and nothing 'good' was left in the basket... and they weren't teasing/joking remarks either.  

For Admin Professional Day this year, one of my directors bought me a very small jar that says 'Secretary Sweets'... I have a few individually wrapped candies in it but nothing major (mainly cause it's a rather small jar).

Around Halloween & Easter... I bring in a lot of my kidlet's candies - keeps us all from eatting too much at home.  

"(but you can probably tell that by the accent ) ... "

LOL, Gemini!

There are dishes of chocolates and other sweets all OVER this North American office.

No candy dish but we do have a permanent biscuit supply in one of our filing cabinets.  Next to the window - third drawer down - right at the back if any of you ever stop by.  We have to hide them because we have the same problem as lots of you - people who walk through our office eat them but never top up supplies.  If someone is having a bad day we manage to 'magic' them up!!

I'm in a new job so there's nothing in my office at the moment.  In thold job we used to have a  tin that we took round the students, mainly filled with hard sweets but with mints etc in there. We used to keep the nice ones back lol.  

Occasionally a student would buy us chocolates and we'd keep them back :D

I might have one on my desk ... but there's only the MD and myself come into my office so I don't think need one

Cx

I have one on my desk, and have had one from day one in my first position.  My only rule, and it is posted, is that if you want something, you must donate to it's purchase.  This has worked very well for many years and I have no complaints.  If it goes empty for too long, people start chipping in once more.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

I am in the UK and I used to have a dish of peppermints on my desk.

It worked really well for a long time with the two people I supported helping themselves but regularly replenishing (never knew what they would bring to fill it up which was nice) BUT THEN several directors discovered its existence and used to take a detour past my desk to help themselves without ever offering to contribute.  Eventually I just let the stocks dwindle - shame because it was a nice thing to do ... maybe I'll try again now I am in a different job.

Cathy

I have a sweet jar in my office!  I don't usually eat them but others do.  I can usually make them feel guilty so they bring more supplies so I'm not the only one paying for it.  

I can prove useful as some people have forgotten why they came in and if you get the really chewy ones they can't talk for at least 5 mins!  Well you have got to have some entertainment.....!

Liz

Prior to this job, I never had a candy dish on my desk. Not only was I concerned about moochers who pig out and never contribute, but that candy is a siren song calling my name. I would go and get it from others, but I would bring a bag in to refill theirs periodically so they didn't mind.

Now I am basically alone in the office and I had a candy jar. Sure enough... sigh... I munched like there was no tomorrow. It's currently empty and I am debating about refilling it since I just snack away and pay no attention to how much I am eating. I had picked up some alternatives - peanut butter/crackers, pop tarts, instant oatmeal, etc. This way I have something to eat when I get hungry, but slightly healthier. I have to admit though, sometimes I just want CHOCOLATE!!!

Marie

OK, I'm new around here, only registered today, so hello everyone.

I thought I'd just jump in to say that I've never heard of a candy dish before either, but as I'm UK based as well, it backs up the USA only comment.

I think it sounds like a great idea, but I know I'd end up eating most of the sweets myself, so I'd have to buy something that I don't like to put in it (not much chance of getting it on expenses in the NHS).  Then I'd have to watch everyone else eating my sweets.  How heart-breaking would that be?

One other thing, can someone please explain to me what LOL means?  I'm sure it'll be patently obvious once someone has patiently explained it to me.

Cheers

Sarah

Welcome Sara!  It's great to see a new face in the neighborhood.  Hope to see you posting often!

As for LOL --  Laugh Out Loud.  Standard shorthand for texting, e-mailing, or other written "instant" communication.  You'll find that we use a lot of shorthand in here, some of which is slightly unique to just us.  Never fear to ask what it means.  We're a friendly lot and will be glad to offer some insight and understanding to any and all questions.

Once more, Welcome!!

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

Thanks for that Countrigal.  I'm obviously showing my age.  I need a teenager around to keep me up-to-date.

Sarah

I really wouldn't want it on my desk. Generally people in the office sometimes bring in something to share, if we put it on top of the fridge someone will open it at some point. There are lots of things which I'd lke to have some of but really wouldn't want a whole box, packet, tin or whatever on my own (because I'd keep eating) so I like to encourage others to have a bit of it too.

Luci