Workplace etiquette: Heating fish in the microwave and other don’ts no one told you about

With many workers returning to the office now, maybe it’s time for a quick reminder on some workplace etiquettes to adhere to if you want the communal space to be at least bearable for everyone. One of the touchy subjects of sharing an office space is food.

Inasmuch as no one should be shamed for what they eat, we’ll all agree that certain meals just don’t blend in too well with the atmosphere in an enclosed office space. These are four foods that may not agree with the aura in your office and may cause your colleagues to like you a little less:

Hard-boiled eggs

Boiled eggs are packed with protein and make for a healthy snack. But no one really likes the pungent smell of boiled yoke, do they? Also, the smell of egg could trigger a reaction from people with egg allergies. If you often eat at your desk, you might want to step outside briefly to enjoy your eggs away from Shannon’s disapproving stare.

Vegetables

We are encouraged to include more vegetables in our meals. It’s why it’s unfair that they can stink up a room so badly. Heating leftover broccoli, onion, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts in the office microwave can produce such strong stench that could easily be likened to a form of biological warfare.

Microwave popcorn

The bigger issue here should be you eating popcorn for lunch, (no judgement!). Few people don’t like the smell of popcorn; it takes you back to the cinema or movie night at home. The smell is distracting for anyone trapped behind an office desk doing work they would rather not be doing. Unless you are sharing it with everyone in the office, making popcorn at work is just mean.

Fish

You made this really tasty salmon last night and can’t wait to dig into the leftover during lunch. Let’s face it, fish is just one of the smelliest things to put in the microwave. And it has a long-lasting odour to boot. We get it, you don’t care much for your co-workers, but please don’t subject anyone to the smell of your calamari take out. Also, eating canned fish like tuna or sardines at your desk is just as bad.

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