Everybody’s got to eat. But do you have to bring food like fish and bacon to work to cook in the microwave. Trust me, it never smells as good at work as it does at home the night before.
No matter how big or small your office is, the smell of certain foods will flow. Even if you have your own office with a microwave in it, and you think you’re being kind by shutting the door while you microwave your leftovers, the smell will escape. If your co workers are looking at you funny on your way back from the kitchen, there is a reason.
Nobody ever eats toast at work either. At least I can’t tell if they do because toast is practically odorless if you don’t burn it. Or maybe it’s just that the smell of toast is overpowered by the deliciously smelly cabbage somebody brought in from their garden and nuked up for lunch.
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any interest in following up on this issue? Try to find out who the culprits in your office are? A project I am working on may be able to help. If interested e-mail at mookbat@aol.com.
Blair on June 18th, 2007 at 4:09 pm | Link
The author of this article is in desparate need of diversity and sensitivty training. Fish is a normal and healthy part of a diet for people all around the world. If you are unable to cope in a diverse workplace then you should consider self-employment.
Paul on October 13th, 2007 at 3:50 pm | Link
This is pure facism. Imagine if you were in a workplace and muslim corkers objected to you eating pork for lunch? Or vegan coworkers complained that your beef stank. Discrimination doesn’t have to be illegal for it to be just plain wrong.
Happy on October 13th, 2007 at 3:54 pm | Link
You see, people, it’s not about sensitivity, racism, and all that fancy mumbo jumbo.
Friggin microwaves should be banned for ALL…fairly & equally. Bring a sangawich or go out for hot food. If you say you do not have time, imagine the lost time you are costing your organization due to coworkers silently suffering & skulking off to the toilet to puke from burnt popcorn, curry, & turmeric infested haddock.
Workplace microwaves, like workplace washrooms are COMMUNAL and we all know, nobody likes the smell of somebody else’s ****, but our own **** odor does not bother us.
I like this analogy because all races & genders defecate.
Turdo on October 17th, 2007 at 8:32 pm | Link
I agree with the article. You will always have one that brings in fish, collard greens and all of it covered in some island spice. It smells like crap but they don’t have enough sense to realize it.
Eric on January 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm | Link
I get it. If 99% say “no fish” and 1% say “fish,” the 1% wins. BUT, if 99% say “fish” and 1% say “no fish,” the 1% STILL wins. The meek truly SHALL inherit the earth because there are enough multicultural, spineless twits out there to defend to the death (NOT THEIR OWN, OF COURSE) the so-called rights of the minority (until white males become the minority) to run roughshod over the majority. Gotta love liberals.
Common Sense on March 19th, 2008 at 12:13 pm | Link
OK…what about those who can’t eat BREAD, WHEAT, etc.?
I’m totally allergic to wheat, so eating a sandwich or going out are NOT possible for someone like me. I miss sandwiches, thank God above that you can (1) eat them or (2) afford to eat out.
I just ate a microwaved rice dinner, the ONLY dinner that I can find that doesn’t contain wheat and cost $$$$. Most of the time I’m stuck bringing something that sucks from home.
Perhaps you don’t realize there are other needs to consider.
A Stewart on April 1st, 2008 at 9:39 am | Link
You know what? It’s food. Get over yourself and let others eat that which they choose. And while you’re at it, be thankful that you have such a petty complaint.
ChicagoGuy on April 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am | Link
What idiots. You all are spinning these yarns trying to side step the issue, which is not about trying to be anti cultural or not allow people to eat what they want. It’s about being respectful of others around you on the jobsite. Fish cooked in a microwave smells horrible, period. You can eat what you want, but it’s not fair that others who sit near the breakroom have to put up with it. Eat your fish, but don’t bring it to work if the smell is offensive. I love pizza, but if I thought that it gave off a repulsive smell that offended other workers and made them sick, then I damn sure would choose something else to eat at lunch while I am at work. It’s common courtesy for God sake.
Some people are allergic to seafood and just by breathing in the fumes can cause an allergic reaction, which could even be fatal. This is unacceptible. So, let’s not offend people who bring the stinking food in to cook at work, but it’s ok to send someone to the hospital or make people sick because you are to damn dumb to realize that people cannot tolerate certain odors and they have the right not to have to endure it while on the jobsite.
Linda on November 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am | Link
I totally agree with Linda. I work in a large office and this happens from time to time. I once tried to tell the co-worker that his steamed broccoli - YES he steamed it in his office was not very nice smelling and he actually said he thought it smelled delicious - finally someone gave him the word because he doesn’t do it anymore. The Office is NOT the place for any of this. When about 3 different dishes all melled together I actually lose my appetite and beg for some fresh air.
Becky on March 21st, 2009 at 4:51 pm | Link
I have a huge problem with ONE co-worker constantly microwaving stuff. He cooks bacon, eggs, popcorn, hot-pockets. If it can be microwaved he cooks it. I once got into a situation with him when he cooked popcorn and it stank up the whole office. After it was cooked I sprayed air freshener…and a LOT of it too. I admit I over did the spraying a bit, but this was the last straw on an already bad day. We may have both been talked to, but he stopped cooking popcorn in our office and now uses the microwave down the hall for it. I still have problems with him cooking everything else tho. And I wouldn’t mind so much if he did it during breaks and lunch hours when I can escape the office, but he eats at ALL HOURS EXCEPT for breaks and lunches when I have to sit there and suffer. I’ve actually had to go to the bathroom to hide out for 15 minutes until the stink clears. This is what I have a problem with. I just believe he should eat at the designated break times and not the times when we’re suppose to be working.
Sue on May 28th, 2009 at 6:45 am | Link
So So sad.
I work in a hospice for the terminally ill. Time and time again we get patients who cant stand food smells - strangely they’re always in with colon cancer….
You sense of smell is there to aid the correct choice of food.
Ask any dietitian, food is only ever odorless for one reason - its dead. Its kind of a clue about its effect on you.
The air freshener wont work. though it might give someone an asthma attack, for which you can be disciplined if you didn’t get your co-workers express permission.
Let and let live. Keep the microwave clean. Make friends. Leave your desk and get some fresh air. Be happy.
Alex on June 8th, 2009 at 7:50 am | Link
You have no idea what it is like working with an Bangalore or New Deli team and the stuff they bring in to eat. OMG some of it smells like the south bound end of a north bound horse and looks worse.
Richard on April 6th, 2010 at 9:12 am | Link
The diversity in Indian food is at least 28 which is the number of states! With so much of diversity imagine how Indians work in their home country. It is about tolerance at workspace.
Also, is there any food that does not smell? Even raw foods have smell which may not be tolerable to some.
Karen on April 22nd, 2010 at 5:02 pm | Link
Small petty minded individuals find time to effin complain about the smell of food ? For fukks sake man grow up !!
Manny on April 25th, 2010 at 9:38 am | Link