Office Lunch Room Etiquette Query

[Jucius Maximus]

Here is the situation:

You are in the lunch room just putting your bagged lunch into the microwave, and then someone else comes in and pulls their prepared store-bought microwave lunch out of the fridge. They see that you're microwaving your food and make some comment saying that they're leaving their food there on the table so they can come back later and microwave it.

Is it appropriate (or even expected) that, when you are done, you are going to put their food into the microwave and follow the instructions on the store-bought packaging since their food is already sitting there and "waiting in line," and they left because you were using it?

Or is that kind of creepy and overstepping your bounds?

[-=phelan=-]

depends...if they are in your dept i'd be like " u want me to warm it up for u after i'm done" if i have no idea i'd be like "ok" and after warming up my food i walk away

just my 2 cents.

[funkyfr3sh_]

Here is the situation:

You are in the lunch room just putting your bagged lunch into the microwave, and then someone else comes in and pulls their prepared store-bought microwave lunch out of the fridge. They see that you're microwaving your food and make some comment saying that they're leaving their food there on the table so they can come back later and microwave it.
Is it appropriate (or even expected) that, when you are done, you are going to put their food into the microwave and follow the instructions on the store-bought packaging since their food is already sitting there and "waiting in line," and they left because you were using it?

Or is that kind of creepy and overstepping your bounds?

No, I would not warm it unless they asked me to. If nothing is said, I will assume they will warm it themseleves.

[coolspot]

Is it appropriate (or even expected) that, when you are done, you are going to put their food into the microwave and follow the instructions on the store-bought packaging since their food is already sitting there and "waiting in line," and they left because you were using it?

You just nod, and leave it there.


If you overcook their food, they'll be POed at you for the rest of the day

[GemInite]

people in my office can even clean the fridge when they spill something. I wouldn't trust them to microwave my food nor would I want them to.

Heck I think there is 3 year old salad dressing in the fridge right now.

[beetfarm]

depends...if they are in your dept i'd be like " u want me to warm it up for u after i'm done" if i have no idea i'd be like "ok" and after warming up my food i walk away

just my 2 cents.

Exactly. Just ask them, not RFD forums.

[Piro21]

Just leave it alone unless they ask you.


On another note, people, please for the love of god don't bring curry every day if your lunchroom is on the same floor as your office. I'm brown, but even I get sick of the smell.

[checm8]

Just leave it alone unless they ask you.


On another note, people, please for the love of god don't bring curry every day if your lunchroom is on the same floor as your office. I'm brown, but even I get sick of the smell.

how about fried fish/tuna

[flypretty]

no obligation unless they ask.

plus, maybe you're trying to be the nice person but they actually dont even want you to touch their food.

[Pete_Coach]

Just leave it alone unless they ask you.
On another note, people, please for the love of god don't bring curry every day if your lunchroom is on the same floor as your office. I'm brown, but even I get sick of the smell.

how about fried fish/tuna

If we are asking people to put on less fragrance when they come to work, why are odoriferous foods exempt? Personally I would rather smell Chanel than Eau de curry or essence of leftover fish.

[Jucius Maximus]

If we are asking people to put on less fragrance when they come to work, why are odoriferous foods exempt? Personally I would rather smell Chanel than Eau de curry or essence of leftover fish.

Some people are actually allergic to fragrances, which can cause them medical problems and interfere with their work.

[plymouthhater]

I thought this thread was going to be one of those "somebody keeps stealing my food from the lunchroom fridge" topics

[Pete_Coach]

Some people are actually allergic to fragrances, which can cause them medical problems and interfere with their work.

As some people have seafood allergies?

[Jucius Maximus]

As some people have seafood allergies?

Allergies to the aroma of seafood? Smelling and eating are different things.

I should point out also that some companies do have restrictions on strong smelling foods. One place where I worked did not allow bringing strong smelling foods to your desk, forcing you to keep it in the lunch room. This was for the benefit of people who were dieting and did not want to be tempted.

[Pete_Coach]

Allergies to the aroma of seafood? Smelling and eating are different things.

I should point out also that some companies do have restrictions on strong smelling foods. One place where I worked did not allow bringing strong smelling foods to your desk, forcing you to keep it in the lunch room. This was for the benefit of people who were dieting and did not want to be tempted.

Clearly you do not understand what an allergy is or how it can be triggered. Of If you can smell it then there are particles in the air and can trigger the reaction. Pollen, hay fever etc are the most common of those but peanut is also becoming another. But this is way off topic, sorry OP.