To save some green these days, many folks have started brown bagging their lunch as they head off to the daily grind.
But with the new thrust of co-workers bringing their lunch to work, we all must freshen up — or learn for the first time — our break room etiquette.
“I do think office kitchen etiquette is becoming more of an issue as more people seem to be brown bagging it lately,” said Allen Nivens, a Realtor with Norton Commercial Group. “I don’t know that all of these newcomers know the unwritten code.
“Just because it is in the fridge unguarded does not mean it is fair game. I think labeling your stuff is key ... and a trustworthy soul.”
Horror stories of stolen food and drinks — along with exploded chili in the microwave — make break room manners important to follow for everyone.
Katherine Dunn, founder and president of the Atlanta School of Protocol and Etiquette, said consideration is the basis for all manners in the workplace.
“I think in dealing with office refrigerator etiquette you need to keep in mind (that) you need to respect others and you also need to be considerate of others,” said Dunn, who provides seminars in business and social etiquette, international protocol and dining skills. “People forget that is something we need to think about in every aspect of life, and the office refrigerator is certainly one.”
So, the first step when taking your lunch to work is to personalize the bag or container, according to the book “Etiquette” by Peggy Post.
The topic outlined in the manners manual says the label announces to the world that the food is not communal — but it still may not deter a thief.
Dunn agreed that labeling your lunch is key, along with considering the size of the container.
“They need to remember the refrigerator is only a certain size,” she said. “I guess it depends too on the size of the office ... they need to remember they need a small container to put in there; they can’t put in a whole lunch pail or a huge box because it takes up too much room.
“If they are going to bring chips and a sandwich, a drink, an apple and a cookie — only the sandwich needs to go in there.”
Along with taking up a small amount of space, Dunn said there is another general rule to follow: If you use something, always leave it nicer than you found it.
“In other words, if you happen to spill or it leaks then clean it up,” she said.
Letting the employees join in on cleaning the refrigerator each week also could cut down on a stinky fridge, along with posting rules of the break room.
“People need to understand this is the way we are going to run the office and you can always set a new standard,” Dunn said. “But it needs to be in writing and it’s great if you can post it near the refrigerator or on the refrigerator that these are the rules. And not tons of them — make it simple.”
Bobby Canupp, customer service representative at McGarity’s Office Products, said at his office they don’t have a “refrigerator watch person.” But there are certain expectations.
“We don’t have rules posted; we do have a refrigerator for the convenience of our employees ... if they want to bring a lunch,” he said. “Our hope is that they would — that the employees would keep it tidy. In other words, we don’t have rules posted.”
Canupp said McGarity’s employees often bring their lunch, but he’s not sure if it is due to the economy.
“We have some folks that have done different diet plans and they will bring their meals from home,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s because of the economy but because they want to watch what they eat.”
Dunn said obviously food that belongs to someone else should never be taken from the fridge. But she said she thinks folks should take turns in the office cleaning out the communal refrigerator.
“Because until you get involved and see what’s in there and start thinking along those lines, you’re not going to realize it’s any big deal,” she said. “If people cleaned it out every week, then they would realize that it’s aggravating. Then everybody would understand that if you don’t get drinks or things like that out, then it’s going to be gone at the end of the week and wouldn’t have stuff just sitting there.
“One other thing, too, is be considerate of other people and don’t put really smelly food in there.”
Consideration also is key when using the office coffee pot.
Post’s book “Etiquette” says to refill the coffee pot if you happen to have the last cup. Canupp agreed.
“Again, it’s not posted ... generally the first person in in the morning will brew two pots — a pot of decaf and a pot of regular, so we don’t have a problem with that,” he said. “And hopefully people will clean up after themselves.”