At a time when many are still searching for gainful employment, labor discussions have taken over the internet.
Users across sites like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok have turned to the respective platforms to voice concerns about their current work, recount their struggles trying to find a new job, or simply lament the present state of the job market.
For example, one user on TikTok recounted a story in which an employer strung her along for three interviews—only to reveal that her “full-time” pay was just $500 a month. Another user sparked debate after attempting to explain why so many low-level workers do not want to become managers, despite the perceived benefits in moving up through a workplace.
Now, an additional TikToker has inspired discussion after showing how their boss responded to a request for higher pay.
In a video with over 26,000 views as of Friday, TikTok user Shaun (@andrew._s1) shows several stacks of Chick-fil-A boxes on a table.
“Why is it every time your job is working the hell out of you and you tell them you need a raise or something, they always cater f*cking food?” Shaun asks in the video.
“What is this sandwich about to do?” he continues. “I’m still going to eat it, but that’s not the f*cking point, bro.”
What Shaun is noting here is something internet users have taken to calling the “pizza party” problem. Rather than address worker concerns, management will attempt to quell labor issues by offering free food to employees—often in the form of a “pizza party.”
Several users in the comments section of Shaun’s video cited this issue.
“I don’t be eating that ish….ESPECIALLY PIZZA. I can buy it myself???” wrote a user.
“Could be worse. Could be pizza lol,” another user joked.
This idea is so ubiquitous that a Western Michigan University organizational change leadership doctoral student named Vanessa Hills analyzed the phenomenon by looking at employee responses to pizza parties via Reddit comments.
“Viewed as a reward by leadership, Hills found pizza parties can create unnecessary disconnect among management and employees,” reads a piece in WMU News. “Also, the public comments left by Reddit users can be damaging to an organization’s image online.”
On TikTok, users shared their own thoughts on the practice.
“I hate catering,” stated a commenter. “Get me a gas card and a chic fil a card and I’ll get back to work and ask for a raise the next 3 months lmfao.”
“I used to tell them I come to work to get paid not fed,” offered a second. “I can buy my own food if you pay me.”
The Daily Dot reached out to Shaun via TikTok comment.
Update 3:04 pm CT Nov. 22: In a TikTok direct message exchange with the Daily Dot, Shaun gave further context about the incident.
“My employer buys food every time we come together as a group and say our working conditions are unfair,” he explained. “It’s never out of appreciation, only a means to try and make us stay with the company longer.”
“The most recent situation that occurred was our corporate office made a visit to our distribution center after many complaints to HR about our working conditions, wages for amount of work, and also our management using foul language when speaking to us,” he continued. “We receive over 3000 tires a day and our staff for inbound product only consists of me and one other individual; the food was meant to be a ‘sorry’ after corporate told our manager he had a week to turn around our working conditions or he would be terminated.”
That said, Shaun also pointed out ways his workplace could improve.
“I think our employer could most definitely hire more staff, which could decrease the strain on our current staff,” he detailed. “Since the job is physically demanding, it would just be nice to have more help accomplishing our goals, or at least raise the wages of our current staff to accommodate for the increased workload.”
