How to Discourage a Well-Intentioned, but Pesky, Co-Worker<br />I feel bad about having to turn down the tastes and snacks, so, nothing personal, but can we just agree<br />that you don’t need to offer me anything?” Consider going out on light note: “If you’ve got something really tempting I might ask – but you can always say no!”<br />If there’s some specific reason that you’re willing to share — strict diet, counting calories, whatever — feel free to substitute that.<br />I know she’s only being kind, but I bring my own lunch every day, and mostly I just don’t want to eat the food she is offering me.<br />I’m assuming you’ve already made some decision about<br />that one “snack” in the communal fridge — the Workologist cannot actually respond fast enough to address dilemmas that directly involve perishables — but, yes, you should tell her to stop.<br />I explained that I’d brought my lunch that day, and maybe I’d eat it the next day.<br />Certainly when you’ve reached your current level of dissembling<br />and elaborate maneuvers, it’s time to give up on hoping she’ll “get the message.” The longer this goes on, the more awkward it gets.<br />While you don’t really owe her an explanation, sometimes adding even a vague reason helps soften things.
