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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague constantly eating all the time

235 replies

shewhoisnotme · 24/08/2022 22:48

We share a desk.

She comes in at 9. Usually a McDonald's breakfast bun of some kind

Snacks on cake, sausage rolls, meats 🍰

Lunch is chicken and chips, McDonald's, KFC. Loads of crisps for a snack after at her desk

AIBU to be annoyed? She is constantly eating! The drums drive me up the wall. They edge onto my side

OP posts:
CecilyP · 25/08/2022 05:59

If your immediate line manager won’t do or say anything, can you take it up with someone at a more senior level?

Aprilx · 25/08/2022 06:00

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 24/08/2022 23:09

That is pretty disgusting. Not many other jobs would allow this constant eating. The vast majority of working adults manage to eat at designated break times so I'm sure she could too. Could you speak to management about having the desk area as a food free zone.

I have been in the workforce for three decades and nobody has ever told me when I can eat and I have never had a designated break for food. If you work in an office as I do, it just doesn’t work like that, you can eat whenever you want.

In this case I am surprised that eating substantial amounts of food is allowed on the reception desk, that seems pretty unprofessional and not the image most companies like to present to potential external guests. I am surprised management didn’t intervene for that reason.

thelastgreatdynasty · 25/08/2022 06:10

Oh this does sound gross. The smell and the leftover food everywhere. If you don't want to have a direct conversation with her could you maybe make the excuse that you're sprucing the desk up? By a pot plant to cover your tracks and lots of cleaning products on hand?? Then comment on how lovely it is keeping everywhere clean and tidy Wink

CecilyP · 25/08/2022 06:14

I have been in the workforce for three decades and nobody has ever told me when I can eat and I have never had a designated break for food. If you work in an office as I do, it just doesn’t work like that, you can eat whenever you want.

It was 3 decades ago that hot food in my office was banned! You could still have sandwiches, crisps and that sort of thing. Pity they didn’t ban smoking at the same time - hard to see how we put up with it now!

Mummyoflittledragon · 25/08/2022 06:14

This seems very unprofessional and I’m surprised at your manager’s reaction. Can you go higher and point out the smell and mess? Or to HR?

Justine878 · 25/08/2022 06:22

fannyfan · 25/08/2022 04:26

This is clearly bollocks. What person can eat at the front Desk?

Just another fat bashing thread where teeny tiny people can come and feel better about themselves

Agree with this

There was a comment about someone eating at work on the plus size thread last night 8 minutes before this thread, someone has an axe to grind. And just consider, what kind of work who is big enough to hire two receptionists/have this kind of set up, would let someone's chicken wings get anywhere and eat all day? I mean think about it (I've spent 10 years working in reception, I wouldn't have been allowed to suck a fucking mint). The level of food is excessive too.

JustJustWhy · 25/08/2022 06:28

PC brigade are out in force I see.

This isn't about how much someone is eating. I wouldn't allow my reception staff to gorge on a constant stream of hot food, all day, at the reception desk. Additionally I don't believe that all of those who say "it shouldn't effect you" and "it's not you business" wouldn't also be totally aggrieved if this happened to them. Wafting, greasy food smell can be just as irritating as wafting cigarette smoke. Unacceptable. She should be eating during break and lunch and NOT at the reception desk.

Justine878 · 25/08/2022 06:28

9 minutes before everywhere

Sorry I shouldn't post when I'm still half asleep!

midsomermurderess · 25/08/2022 06:29

How is she allowed to be constantly eating at reception?

Twiglets1 · 25/08/2022 06:30

shewhoisnotme · 24/08/2022 23:05

I haven't raised this with her as I feel embarrassed to. But I told our line manager who says she must just feel peckish and to leave her to it Angry

Line manager sounds like a Legend

onelittlefrog · 25/08/2022 06:38

I have been in the workforce for three decades and nobody has ever told me when I can eat and I have never had a designated break for food. If you work in an office as I do, it just doesn’t work like that, you can eat whenever you want.

Most places I have worked have had a 'no hot food at your desk' rule for various reasons including protecting IT equipment but also smells and colleagues comfort. It's not that unusual. You just go to the break room if/ when you want hot food.

Original poster
shewhoisnotme · 25/08/2022 06:41

midsomermurderess · 25/08/2022 06:29

How is she allowed to be constantly eating at reception?

We don't have many people coming in for a face to face anymore (no it's not at a GP surgery)

As a result it's not very busy face to face wise. But people do pop up throughout the day

OP posts:
Original poster
shewhoisnotme · 25/08/2022 06:44

Just another fat bashing thread where teeny tiny people can come and feel better about themselves

I'm 15 stone!

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 25/08/2022 06:44

ask her to wipe down and continue to wipe down, blame covid.
suggest to management that she doesnt eat the smelly food at her desk

Kernowfet · 25/08/2022 06:44

Don’t you get team members coming up with queries? Who answers them if she always has a drumstick in her hand?

midsomermurderess · 25/08/2022 06:45

Anywhere I’ve worked with a front desk, not a GP type situation, but accepting deliveries, answering phones, no one would have been allowed to eat all day. And no one would have done that. If nothing else, it’s a bit slovenly (man or woman), and as you’re finding, just generally grubby.

dizzydizzydizzy · 25/08/2022 06:45

shewhoisnotme · 24/08/2022 23:05

I haven't raised this with her as I feel embarrassed to. But I told our line manager who says she must just feel peckish and to leave her to it Angry

That's just awful OP. In can't imagine what impression your colleague creates when customers and others arrive at reception.

I don't think any smelly foods should be allowed within a working environment. It's ok in a staff room.

I don't understand why management are so spineless.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 25/08/2022 06:46

is she new?

Quincythequince · 25/08/2022 06:50

fannyfan · 25/08/2022 04:26

This is clearly bollocks. What person can eat at the front Desk?

Just another fat bashing thread where teeny tiny people can come and feel better about themselves

Where has her weight been mentioned so far? Where?

And stop with the tiresome fat bashing accusations all the time - it’s getting silly now.

This woman is greedy, ill mannered and In considerate. Her weight is neither here nor there.

Arnaquer · 25/08/2022 06:53

How unprofessional!
It would get in my nerves too.
Surely you must be doing more work than her if she is constantly popping out for food and sat eating all the time.
I'm not averse to a KFC myself but never at work.
You really should grow a pair though and say something to her.
Start with
' would you mind not dropping food crumbs on my handbag please? It's greasy and will mark it'
' can you wipe the phone down please? You've left grease on it from your food'

Endlesslypatient82 · 25/08/2022 06:54

This reply has been deleted

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Endlesslypatient82 · 25/08/2022 06:55

As for your colleague, it would be reason enough for me to leave. I couldn’t stand it!

Aprilx · 25/08/2022 06:55

onelittlefrog · 25/08/2022 06:38

I have been in the workforce for three decades and nobody has ever told me when I can eat and I have never had a designated break for food. If you work in an office as I do, it just doesn’t work like that, you can eat whenever you want.

Most places I have worked have had a 'no hot food at your desk' rule for various reasons including protecting IT equipment but also smells and colleagues comfort. It's not that unusual. You just go to the break room if/ when you want hot food.

I have commented on when and whenever people can eat in an office environment, in response to somebody saying that almost everybody has designated eating times.

I have made no comment on what people eat, although now you mention it no never had a hot food ban, although I do find these days people are more inclined to take a break away from the desk to eat. These days I wouldn’t dream of eating at my desk, whereas it was the norm a couple of decades ago.

Yesterday the chap that sits beside me started eating marmite sandwiches for his breakfast at his desk at 9:15am, very strong smell! Fortunately I am on the right side when it comes to marmite, but I think the woman on his other side was finding it confronting.

Justine878 · 25/08/2022 06:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And this is a fat shaming comment. Just holding it up as an example for people who still don't get it!

Endlesslypatient82 · 25/08/2022 06:58

Justine878 · 25/08/2022 06:58

And this is a fat shaming comment. Just holding it up as an example for people who still don't get it!

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