HR Soapbox Blog

(Published September 29, 2008)

It's happened to me. Only once in my nearly 10 years here at AHI, though. Someone stole my can of Pepsi from the fridge. I'm guessing it was an honest mistake, since it never happened before or again, so I didn't make a fuss about it. I didn't need those calories anyway.

Unfortunately, in some workplaces, such behavior is the norm and not the exception. If you're at wits' end with the kitchen behavior of your employees, grab a magnet and post the following list on the fridge.

• Do resist the urge to take what's not yours, no matter how tempting it looks. This includes condiments, too, unless they are provided by the company.

• Don't be a space hog. Bring in enough food for a day or two, but don't pack the fridge or freezer with so much food that no one else has room for their lunch.

• Do watch where you store your food. There's nothing like going to get your PB&J sandwich from the fridge only to find that someone put their cantaloupe directly on top of it. If necessary, reorganize the fridge to fit your lunch, but be careful of hiding a co-worker's food or forgetting to return it to the fridge if you momentarily need to take it out.

• Don't forget to pop into the kitchen before going on vacation. The last thing your co-workers want is a science experiment growing for the next week or two.

• Do replace what you finish. Make a new pot of coffee if you take the last sip, put a new water bottle on if you empty it, open a new box of tea bags if you take the last one, put out a new roll of paper towels if you grab the last sheet.

• Don't forget to check for spills after using the microwave. Check not only the tray, but also the walls and the interior top. Messes are much easier to clean up when they are warm than when they are baked on.

• Do dispose of trash properly. Recycle when appropriate. And please, if the garbage can has a lid, close it. No one wants to look at — and smell — the trash.

• Don't leave your dishes in the sink. Letting them soak for a moment while you run to the restroom is acceptable. Leaving them there for hours is not.

• Do take turns cleaning the coffee pot and other communal items. Contrary to what some might think, these items don't magically clean themselves.

• Don't leave crumbs or spills on countertops or tables.

Am I forgetting anything?

Melissa V. Pomerantz
Editor