Eating drinking at work

Surfer · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:29

Can employers forbid some staff from drinking at their desk but not others?

Same applies with eating. Some people prefer to eat snacks and lunch at desk instead of using canteen/tea room.

Is it not discrimination if it's a policy which does not apply equally to all staff?

How about if some staff do more frontline work (dealing with public) so their desk is in view of public

Thanks

FortuitousFluke · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:42

Surfer said:
Can employers forbid some staff from drinking at their desk but not others?

Same applies with eating. Some people prefer to eat snacks and lunch at desk instead of using canteen/tea room.

Is it not discrimination if it's a policy which does not apply equally to all staff?

How about if some staff do more frontline work (dealing with public) so their desk is in view of public

Thanks

Depends on the reasoning I'd imagine, telling Colin not to eat at his desk because he has the table manners of a wilderbeast is probably not on. You could however set guidelines for all staff around the consumption of desk soup that reduces the chance of getting an impromptu shower.

Asking reception staff not to eat at desks isn't discriminatory if it applies to all staff in the same role, doesn't have to apply to all staff within the organisation.

On the other hand who has the time to get angry about this crap?

VincentHanna · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:45

FortuitousFluke said:
On the other hand who has the time to get angry about this crap?

It's GD....people get angry about everything

Avenged7Fold · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:47

Surfer said:
Can employers forbid some staff from drinking at their desk but not others?

Same applies with eating. Some people prefer to eat snacks and lunch at desk instead of using canteen/tea room.

Is it not discrimination if it's a policy which does not apply equally to all staff?

How about if some staff do more frontline work (dealing with public) so their desk is in view of public

Thanks

Completely reasonable to apply it depending on role and location. If the place of work is a point of meeting for clients/customers you don't want crumbs and mess there or even a small hanging about in the room.

Do you have a more specific example mentioning job roles and positions?

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:49

If an employee is on the frontline then I see no issue with preventing them from eating at their desk. For the sake of office politics personally I would have the same policy for everyone. Offices can be seriously bitchy places to work in.

Avenged7Fold · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:52

'Why is Fred allowed to eat his ham sandwiches at his desk and i have to got to the canteen?'

'Well Sandra, it probably has something to do with your go to lunch being smoked mackerel and couscous that you heat up using the microwave. No one wants to smell your lunch the day it is eaten and certainly dont want to still smell it 4 days later.'

Hades · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:53

Of course it's OK for an employer to ask that you don't eat while working (as long as suitable breaks are given in line with the law). On what planet would someone think it's discrimination?

dowie · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:55

Surfer said:
Is it not discrimination if it's a policy which does not apply equally to all staff?

How about if some staff do more frontline work (dealing with public) so their desk is in view of public

Thanks

"discriminating" between public facing staff and non-public facing staff in terms of being able to eat at your desk seems fairly reasonable... frankly I could think of other ways they might want to "discriminate" too such as dress codes, not allowing them flexi time or the ability to work from home as someone has to man the front desk etc..

this isn't "discrimination" in the unfair/prejudice sense of the word though - that concerns unfair discrimination on the grounds of say race, age, disability etc..

Avenged7Fold · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:55

Hades said:
Of course it's OK for an employer to ask that you don't eat while working (as long as suitable breaks are given in line with the law). On what planet would someone think it's discrimination?

I think OP doesn't mean while on the clock, it is more that they ask you to not eat it at your desk at your lunch hour, while some others are allowed

Hades · 23 Oct 2017 at 11:59

Avenged7Fold said:
I think OP doesn't mean while on the clock, it is more that they ask you to not eat it at your desk at your lunch hour, while some others are allowed

As long as the policy is a blanket one across that job type I don't see an issue. It's the employers premises. E.g. while sitting at a desk you could spill a drink over the PC, or food drops between the keys, etc.

At my office everyone eats at their desk because we rarely get time for a lunch break. But the guidelines say we shouldn't. If they wanted to enforce it then I'd be fine with that but they'd get less work out of me as I would then take my proper breaks.

dowie · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:02

Hades said:
At my office everyone eats at their desk because we rarely get time for a lunch break. But the guidelines say we shouldn't. If they wanted to enforce it then I'd be fine with that but they'd get less work out of me as I would then take my proper breaks.

I've got mixed views on this, there is always the argument that if you take your proper breaks then you'll be more productive during the times where you do work. I guess it depends on the nature of the job... if it is some generic production line type thing where more time = more productivity in a rather linear fashion then obviously skipping a break means more work done - in other fields, perhaps where you're finding solutions to new problems or doing something creative then taking a break can be useful.

ebilcake · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:08

The rule should be for anything stinky, nothing worse than smelly food when your trying to work, applies to cold and hot food.

A colleague used to always bring in cooked chicken and fish and microwave it, it was horrible, salt an vinegar crisps are pretty horrible as well, I don't think people who eat them realize how much they stink, if you're not a fan it's just unbearable.

Anything with egg, mayonnaise can be pretty nasty as well. Although the pre-made sandwiches from the supermarkets are usually fine.

Avenged7Fold · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:16

I can see where you are coming from as far as oily fish goes when heated up but salt and vinegar crisps?

How do you eat at restaurants given your kryptonite for anything smellier than bread?

Were you eating literately shoulder to shoulder with people?

dirtybeatfreak · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:22

Unfortunately, I am one of the whinge bags regarding this. I hate listening to people sitting there munching all day and also some of the meals some people bring in smell disgusting. It seems to me that eating manners have all but gone, no one seems to notice when someone eats like an animal anymore

I have always hated the sound of people eating though, to the point I get irrational and instantly ragey. I have never had a go at anyone though as I know it's my problem not theirs.

I can understand that sometimes eating while on the go is needed, but that isn't the case where I work, except for maybe some of the Management. There's a reason it's called 'Lunch time'!

WildWayz · 23 Oct 2017 at 12:23

It's a hard one...

Where I work, it depends on many things. Drinks are fine, if covered.
Hot food... hmmm kinda frowned upon but providing it isn't too bad, it is accepted.
Fish / Curry = No. Stick to breakout areas or canteen.

However, the canteen won't allow you to bring your own food in and eat it there... and breakout areas are often used as meeting rooms when management can't be arsed booking a room out...

Vonhelmet · 23 Oct 2017 at 13:01

I used to work with some gym wally who ate about 19 meals a day. There's nothing like the smell of microwaved broccoli to keep you on your toes.

rubberduck · 23 Oct 2017 at 13:05

Just claim you are diabetic and you'll be able to get away with eating and drinking whatever you want whenever you want. Carry a little bag around and occasionally stab yourself with a biro so people think you are taking some insulin. Have used this one to take my own food and drink in to the cinema many a time.

pooley · 23 Oct 2017 at 13:06

WildWayz said:
It's a hard one...

Where I work, it depends on many things. Drinks are fine, if covered.
Hot food... hmmm kinda frowned upon but providing it isn't too bad, it is accepted.
Fish / Curry = No. Stick to breakout areas or canteen.

However, the canteen won't allow you to bring your own food in and eat it there... and breakout areas are often used as meeting rooms when management can't be arsed booking a room out...

eat our crap or GTFO LOLZ

Surfer · 23 Oct 2017 at 14:12

What if

Both employees are in the same role (not frontline). The only difference is that the desk of one is visible to the public. Ok to say that no food or drink at that particular desk because it's public facing?

Or would the employee themselves have to be in a frontline public facing role. In that case then yes fine to treat them differently?

ebilcake · 23 Oct 2017 at 14:14

Avenged7Fold said:
I can see where you are coming from as far as oily fish goes when heated up but salt and vinegar crisps?

How do you eat at restaurants given your kryptonite for anything smellier than bread?

Were you eating literately shoulder to shoulder with people?

Salt and Vinegar crisps have quite a strong smell, you don't have to sit right next to somebody to pickup on it. One of reasons I hate them, they smell (and taste) awful.

I've never seen anyone microwaving leftovers or eating Salt and Vinegar crisps in in restaurants, at least not the ones I go to.