The Smell of Food is Offensive?

[ethelberga]

We have no choice but to eat at our desks. There's a microwave and sink by the mailboxes, but that's it as far as kitchen amenities go.  Also, over holiday breaks and summer quarter (I work at a university) all the on-campus eateries shut down, so there's really no place to go that's within walking distance from many parts of campus.  If they want us here 10+ hours a day, they've got to let us eat at our desks. 

[veryfluffy]

I worked in a small company that had a little break area and microwave facilities. It was all open plan, just off to the side from the filing areas. We all brought sandwiches or reheated leftovers or ready-meals. It was good. Then a new PA started, and somehow everyday she brought some kind of food that reeeeeeeeked of garlic. The whole office then reeeeeeeeked of garlic. Eventually, she was told this was unacceptable, but by then we all hated her anyway.

[Ohjustlovely]

They do have air purifiers that can be utilized.    They are several kinds:  ionic, circulatory, and aroma disbursing.  Perhaps one should look into purchasing a few, to test them out.  I personally do not like the aroma disbursing types, but that's just my preference.  These air purifiers really help with all kinds of smells and allergies too!

I purchased a HEPA filter air purifier, and it love it.  I purchased a small ionic air purifier for my desk at work, and it works just as well.

Most employers would be glad to permit you to eat at your desk, because it will make you available for little emergencies.  Should be permitted, as long as you clear your desk when you begin eating so not to make a mess (and you eat quietly -- no chomping or smacking).  I wash my dishes and throw the smelly remains into the kitchen trash, afterwards.

[Sterling]

ethelberga, I also work at a University now and yes during breaks I really have no choice.  Luckly for me I have a private office (so rare on campus and a long story as to how I ended up with one) and I tend to just eat at my desk.

[Squishygirl]

I work in a large open plan office. A couple of years ago we had several smaller offices where it was considered fine to eat at your desk but we also have a smallish staff room upstairs where they serve food and allow you to eat your own too. The powers that be drew three offices together into one where we also now have a counter open to students - anyone walking past can see into one half of our office.

When we first moved in there were no new rules set in place about food. However, two of the office staff made it essential for me to complain quietly to their boss. One had a penchant for seafood and the other had to eat a special diet because she had IBS. Since the desk opposite mine is the only hot desk in the office, (the equipment there is used by everyone at some point during the day) they used it as an impromptu lunch table. They were loud and they were seriously stinky and I couldn't concentrate on my work because of them.

I don't think I handled it the right way because I should have confronted them both and asked if they could eat elsewhere, but I was nervous at the time and I felt as though since we were at the same level, (and they were being so obviously rude) that they wouldn't take hints. I knew they hadn't taken hints about anything else! So I reported to their boss that I was finding it hard to concentrate because they were having their lunch at the spare desk.

The result was that now no one is allowed to eat in the office with the given reason that it is unprofessional to be seen doing so from our desk. People complained at first that it was unfair and that they weren't able to work through their lunches. But what has happened since is that our office is better managed, people covering lunchbreaks with the result that everyone gets away for half an hour from what is often a very stressful job.

If it's at all possible, I think it's so much better all round if you can leave the office for your lunch break. A lot of people I know go for walks and in the Summer eat outside. Just the act of getting away from your desk gives your eyes and mind a break. I know I do my job better because of it.

[Suze]

They do have air purifiers that can be utilized.    They are several kinds:  ionic, circulatory, and aroma disbursing.

Aren't those usually called FANS?

<duck and run>

[Bethalize]

Back during the turn of the last century, houses were built with kitchens as far away from living/dining rooms as possible on the assumption that cooking odors were offensive.

I've never heard this rational before.  I do understand, though, that kitchens were situated in a separate building away from the main house due to fire hazard and because of the heat generated just added to the misery of summer otherwise.

In England large houses very definitely had kitchens but the servants would have a long way to go to get to the hall.

I've never heard the fire hazard theory. Where did they do that?

[EvilAlice]

I do eat at my desk sometimes, and I don't mind when my employees do it.  But we're a small office, only 3 of us, and no customers coming in.  I can see where there are some concerns with it.

One is computer equipment/messes.  Most adults can manage to eat without getting 5 tons of crumbs in the keyboard, but I can see where a large company might have to start this policy because of a couple of pigs getting spaghetti in the printer, or getting stains on important documents, etc.

Another is, if people are going to continue to answer the phone while eating.  Again, most of us here, I would think, know better than to answer the phone with a mouth full or smack into the phone but- the lowest common denominator can be the reason for a lot of these rules.

Ideally all workplaces should provide a place to eat.  Even though we don't have room for a separate dining area I made sure to buy a microwave and refrigerator so people can bring their lunch. It helps our pocketbooks and helps us keep healthy eating habits, not having to eat out every day. My office is huge and I've told my people they can eat at the conference table in my office if they want to just get away from their desks to eat.  No one has taken me up on it, but they do have the option. 

I always hated when I'd bring lunch back and eat at my desk and no one recognized I was on break and would still expect me to answer phones.  One of my employees will go grab a sandwich and bring it back to eat and still have time left on his lunch hour.  I make sure to grab the phones so he gets his actual break.  I don't even know if it's a peeve of his, but I'm very conscious of it because of past experience.

[ohjodi]

To add to your #3..........Deliveries of coal, ice, and such were to the back of the house.

If the company wants you to eat at your desk, it needs to put up with food smells.

At my last job, we weren't allowed to go outside the office for lunch during tax season (a big part of the reason why I don't work there anymore) but had to order in off a menu only one person got to select.  And we had to remain available to our supervisors and clients through lunch.

But I think the reasons why kitchens were built far from living rooms two centuries ago was:
1) Cooking was very noisy (it still is, but walls weren't soundproofed back then)
2) There was fear that a fire could get out of control and damage the rest of the house (considering that all cooking back then was over fires or on gas and there was no electricity, I think this was a reasonable fear)
3) To put more distance between people of higher classes and menial laborers (not justified IMO, but I wasn't alive back then to make the rules  )

[ethelberga]

Sterling - I used to have my own office, but that eventually went to faculty so I'm now in a cube farm.  I don't know what it's like for you, but we're basically expected to arrive early, take no breaks (including lunch) and stay late.  Otherwise, we won't appear to be diligent state employees.  Most days I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at my desk.  If I had to eat out three meals a day I've have no income left at all. 

I'm in an administrative unit and don't really have "customers", per se, and I'm sure it would be different if I was a receptionist.  I don't envy them at all.

[Venus193]

If it's at all possible, I think it's so much better all round if you can leave the office for your lunch break. A lot of people I know go for walks and in the Summer eat outside. Just the act of getting away from your desk gives your eyes and mind a break. I know I do my job better because of it.

If I leave the office, not only do I spend too much money, I can't keep up with E-hell!

[Rach]

If it's at all possible, I think it's so much better all round if you can leave the office for your lunch break. A lot of people I know go for walks and in the Summer eat outside. Just the act of getting away from your desk gives your eyes and mind a break. I know I do my job better because of it.

If I leave the office, not only do I spend too much moeny, I can't keep up with E-hell!

Hehe, that is of course the most important reason 

[sbtier]

Hi,

This is my first post and I had to comment on the Victorians finding food odors offensive.  I collect mid-Victorian household management books and I can confirm this is true.  In larger houses, the hallways between the door going down to the kitchen and dining area were sometimes even equipped with unnecessary twists and turns to help keep odors out.  The rationale was that cooking was something the servants did and shouldn't be detected in the 'upper' part of the house.  In a well-run household, the food should just appear.   

[HushHush]

I work in a welfare office where we used to be allowed to eat at our desks.  In our old office, some of us had cubicles and some had the actual interview booths as our desk area.  With a small break room and almost 100 employees, it was always packed so I would eat lunch at my desk regardless of what it was (fast food or bring from home).  Now, we're not supposed to eat at our desks even though we are all in cubicles, away from the clients interviewing with other workers.  I have to take my lunch early because there is one guy who brings either fish or chicken everyday and reheats it in the microwave until it stinks up the entire back end of the office.  Over-cooked chicken reeks.

However, I'm always sure to take my full lunch and both breaks even if I'm sitting at my desk.  I'm forced to take vacation if I'm even a minute late so why give them time they aren't paying for?  Nobody is going anywhere.

Charlotte

[Sophia]

There is one smell I find offensive.  Reheated shrimp.  I love shrimp, but reheated it smells nasty.  The smell of popcorn is good, but distracting.  Otherwise, I wouldn't care.