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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School staff room

55 replies

Grabitework · 27/06/2023 20:15

I’m a teacher. Aibu to politely tell my colleague that his food is too smelly to be eaten in the staff room? Most of us have a sandwich but he microwaves strong smelling food every single day.

OP posts:
TowerRaven7 · 27/06/2023 20:16

specifically what kind of food?

Azandme · 27/06/2023 20:18

Why do you think you get to be the arbiter of which food smells are acceptable and which are not?

ZigZagRainbow · 27/06/2023 20:19

Wear a face mask so you don't have to smell it.

missmollygreen · 27/06/2023 20:20

YABU, free country, he can eat what he wants

TheOrigRights · 27/06/2023 20:20

Is the microwave in the staff room?

Trinity69 · 27/06/2023 20:21

Part of the reason I avoid the staff room!

Fairislefandango · 27/06/2023 20:21

YABU. Either you're allowed to eat lunch in the staffroom or you're not. You can't start policing people's food on the basis of what you consider too smelly. Why should everyone have to eat sandwiches every day?

At my school most of us bring our own lunches in and eat in the staffroom. People bring soup, salads (sometimes with smoked salmon, sardines etc), stews, curries, lasagne, all kinds of stuff. It's fine!

missmollygreen · 27/06/2023 20:21

Laos not really sure why we needed to know you were a teacher? do you need a pat on the back?

Brightredtulips · 27/06/2023 20:21

This reply has been deleted

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Flippper · 27/06/2023 20:22

missmollygreen · 27/06/2023 20:21

Laos not really sure why we needed to know you were a teacher? do you need a pat on the back?

Maybe just context. Hard to take a different lunch hour, for a start.

Saucery · 27/06/2023 20:23

Strong smelling food in our staff room usually leads to “Ooooh, what are you eating, smells fab!”
I’m not mad keen on fish smells but meh, windows can be opened for a reason and I’d never be so rude as to demand someone stops eating what they want to.

What is he microwaving?

DontMakeMeShushYou · 27/06/2023 20:25

ZigZagRainbow · 27/06/2023 20:19

Wear a face mask so you don't have to smell it.

That's gonna make it tricky to eat a sandwich!

eatdrinkandbemerry · 27/06/2023 20:29

Well my child is forced to sit in a smelly dinner hall every day to eat her lunch so why does a teacher's discomfort trump hers!
(She's diagnosed with spd and can't eat in the smelly environment so eats nothing all day)

swimswimspinspin · 27/06/2023 20:29

YABU

I get why it's annoying but it's one of those things I put in the jar of "get annoyed then move on"

It's considerate to not bring in "smelly" food but not mandatory. There's also the possibly sensitive matter of culturally "different" food or specific dietary requirements.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 27/06/2023 20:30

I cant think of any food smell that's too strong to eat around other people. There are certain food smells I don't like (meat) but I wouldn't dream of mentioning to the person eating it at work.

RoseslnTheHospital · 27/06/2023 20:31

No of course you can't.

Flippper · 27/06/2023 20:34

eatdrinkandbemerry · 27/06/2023 20:29

Well my child is forced to sit in a smelly dinner hall every day to eat her lunch so why does a teacher's discomfort trump hers!
(She's diagnosed with spd and can't eat in the smelly environment so eats nothing all day)

That's really unpleasant for your daughter, but the issues aren't related.

LolaSmiles · 27/06/2023 20:36

I think YANBU to tell him, but YANBU to think it.

I don't think strongly smelling food should be heated up in communal areas, but I'd be a bit of an arse if I told colleagues that their tuna stinks like cat food. 😂

MissyB1 · 27/06/2023 20:40

Go for a walk and eat outside if you’re that bothered.

MumHereAgain · 27/06/2023 20:42

Omg god yes! (But no) we had one person cooking salmon every single day. Yuck.
Good luck

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/06/2023 20:44

Are teachers allowed to go off-site for lunch?

JazzyBBG · 27/06/2023 20:45

Not kippers is it?

FcukTheDay · 27/06/2023 20:47

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/06/2023 20:44

Are teachers allowed to go off-site for lunch?

I am a TA and in my school, we are allowed to leave at break and lunch.

BarbaraVineFan · 27/06/2023 20:50

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/06/2023 20:44

Are teachers allowed to go off-site for lunch?

Ha! Chance would be a fine thing. Typically we have about 15 mins to gobble our lunch before rushing off to duty, lunchtime clubs, extra support for students etc

Thelittleweasel · 27/06/2023 20:52

@LolaSmiles

Oh how well said about tuna/cat food