Q:A co-worker, who likes to “graze,” leaves his daily rice and bean concoction in the office microwave all day long. I asked my co-worker to stop doing this , but he just shrugged and hasn’t stopped. Our manager sees my point but isn’t inclined to get involved. What can I do?
A:You’ve already tried the first two things I’d recommend: politely asking the grazer to stop and bringing your complaint to your boss. Since you’ve gotten nowhere and your coffee still smells like rice rather than french roast, it’s time to up the ante. Check around and see if anyone else is annoyed. If so, band together and politely ask him to stop using the microwave as his personal storage cabinet. The peer pressure may cause him to reconsider his actions. Beyond that, you may be stuck. Throw out his smelly concoction? An appealing idea, but unless you want an all-out kitchen war or worse, don’t go there.
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Check to see if others are annoyed and band together with co-workers? That doesn’t sound like a typical “Post” response. That seems a bit gossipy to bring others into such a situation. Furthermore, bringing fellow co-workers into the situation could have additional (unwanted) employment ramifications.
this happened at my office. so finally, “someone” put up a note that said basically your mom doesn’t work here – clean up after yourself! It worked for the most part. A few dishes still scatter the sink, but food has been picked up more.
It’s actually a health hazard for him to leave his food in the microwave all day. Followers of Alton Brown’s “Good Eats” will recall that the food “danger zone” is 41 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit; leaving food out at these temperatures for several hours creates a danger of food poisoning. Your boss may be more inclined to step in knowing that the coworker is breeding bacteria in the communal microwave.
I guess I am more mean…….I would toss it.
I am the office secretary, translation: everyone ASSUMES it is my job to do kitchen duty. They leave stuff everywhere, in the sink, on the counter. We have a dishwasher, but no one places the dishes IN the dishwasher or turns in on, or empties it. It has gotten to where the fridge is packed with old spoiled food, and yes, your microwave issue happens here too.
Know what I did? I just started pitching the stuff out. The first few weeks I would warn people ahead of time so they could scramble to save their food. Now, if it is left out – spoiled – rotten – stinky, whatever, it goes in the trash.
You would be AMAZED at how well it worked…. and is continuing to make my (not my job) kitchen duty easier.
Camille, I don’t think this is mean at all, but mature, calm, rational…one adult worker assuming her coworkers should act like adults. Good for you!