Breakroom/work Issues

[Katsby]

Ok a little backstory: I work in an area with a very small breakroom that has 1 microwave, 1 fridge, and 1 table for 3 small depts to share (about 15 or so people coming and going on my workshift at various break times). That microwave is filthy and covered with spagetti sauce and all sorts of other disgusting things. I simply cannot bring myself to use it. We cannot have a toaster due to fire issues. If I have something that needs microwaving I basically go downstairs to the 3 microwaves near the cafeteria (I work at a hospital) and use the ones the general public does to pop their popcorn, etc from the snack machines. It seems ten thousand times cleaner since the housekeepers keep it clean. The microwave in my breakroom hardly ever gets cleaned. I never really used it before until I found out I was gluten intolerant and started bringing more prepared meals to work (rice + chicken, etc) that I need to heat up. The breakroom table is scary with sticky stuff, crumbs, etc. It's cleaned every day by housekeeping despite how dirty it gets. I just work with a bunch of pigs I think.

Anyway I don't want to have to clean the microwave every single day to use it, so I am unsure what I could bring to work that would not require heating up. Also do you think people would get offended if I left a note on the microwave to please make sure to cover your food and if you make a mess please clean it up? I can easily wipe down the table when I eat so that's not a huge deal. It's just that people are so messy and sometimes after I eat I still get gassy/bloated and I wonder if it's not cc. I don't really want to explain to people my food issues because I feel it's none of their business (I have only told my boss and 2-3 coworkers, but they still don't understand the importance of cc). I don't want to put anyone out and it's kind of at the point where I just don't eat up there anymore.

[ShayFL]

A good large Thermos can go a long way. Heat at home and put in Thermos so it is still warm at lunchtime.

[cruelshoes]

When I use our work microwave, I put a paper towel below and over the top of my food. They both go promptly in the trash when I am done. I sort of reach in between them and slide my food out so none of the detritus from the microwave contaminates anything. I have my own toaster at my desk that I keep locked up. It is labeled with my name and a skull and crossbones so nobody tries anything funny. You can try putting a sign on the microwave if you want, but I really don't think it will do anything. Unless there is a mandate from HR, nobody in our office will change anything. Wher I work, HR had to put signs up with threats of termination to get people to stop stealing lunches out of the refrigerator.

You could also put a paper towel under your food in the breakroom. People might think you are OCD or a neat freak, but it would help prevent CC.

People are just pigs in the lunchroom. It amazes me what people will do, and I know they aren't that disgusting at home ( at least I hope so).

[Katsby]

  cruelshoes said:

It is labeled with my name and a skull and crossbones so nobody tries anything funny. You can try putting a sign on the microwave if you want, but I really don't think it will do anything. Unless there is a mandate from HR, nobody in our office will change anything. Wher I work, HR had to put signs up with threats of termination to get people to stop stealing lunches out of the refrigerator.

lol the skull and crossbones is a great idea. We also had people in the past stealing lunches. If someone steals my carefully prepared gluten-free lunch I may well just freak out lol

[Katsby]

  ShayFL said:

A good large Thermos can go a long way. Heat at home and put in Thermos so it is still warm at lunchtime.

That's a great idea

[home-based-mom]

This must be a universal problem One place I worked put up a big sign that read.

"YOUR MOTHER DOESN'T WORK HERE. PLEASE PICK UP YOUR OWN MESS."

But alas, that didn't work, either. Sigh.

[WW340]

I agree with everything said so far. The only thing I have to add is that I have a thermal lunch box that will either keep things cold with a cold pack so I don't have to use the fridge, or will keep things warm, esp. if I use the thermos. I try to stay as totally independent as possible. I can keep my lunch with me and then I know it has not been messed with. If I should have to use the microwave, I do the paper towel liner as well. I also carry my own silverware with me. The lunch room is a disaster. I spray down my eating area and use paper towels as a place mat.

[margiemakes]

I have the same issues at my work. I have always washed the cutlery before I use it but one time I saw someone slice bread with a knife and then put it straight back into the drawer and ever since then I have been extremely vigilant about bringing my own cutlery with me that I store in my office, and washing it before and after I use it just in case.

Also to use the microwave I always put paper towel down and only loosen the lids on my containers and not actually take them off inside there.

I also eat at the tables either off my own plate/lunchbox that I bring in and out or off paper towel (or both).

Another big source of CC that I worry about is the communal dishbrush thing which is one of those ones with detergent in the handle and a sponge on the end, and I hate to think about how much gluten is lurking in that sponge let alone the germs etc so I just put fresh detergent on and use my hands to wash, dry with paper towels instead of the communal tea towel ( or use a new one from the drawer) and even that is if i bother to wash them at work, usually I just take my dirty lunchbox home and wash it there.

People at work all know about my intolerance though and we there is someone else here who is also intolerant so nobody looks at me funny. Mostly they are just worried about whether what they are doing would affect me so that's pretty lucky I guess.

[kera87]

When I go to work I try to bring cold things or foods that don't need to be heated up. For example I bring tuna fish already made in a ziplock container, as well as fruit, gluten-free bars (i like bumble bars), gluten-free lunchmeat (from Wegmans), salads made at home, and there are great gluten-free bagels out there that you could also bring. I'm a bit of a snacker so I like to bring a bunch of small things but you could always made a sandwich on gluten-free bread and bring that. I usually bring a lunchbox thing and an ice pack and everything stays fresh. Also, get plastic silverware to bring so you never have to worry about someone else using a utensil.

[Lockheed]

BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

[gfp]

  Lockheed said:

BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

or they might just take the Microwave away altogether ????

[Katsby]

  Lockheed said:

BTW you can file with your HR person that you have a disability and that you require a clean working microwave to accommodate your disability and then they are supposed to provide that to you.

Well I can't prove that I have a disablity because I haven't been diagnosed with celiac just gluten intolerance. I don't want to take it that far anyway. Even if we had another microwave that I could use I don't really trust my coworkers to not use it.

There were a lot of good suggestions in the topic so thanks everyone

[Fifi]

I am new to this forum. I just joined today. I have had celiac disease for 7 moths now and been G F for that long. I can agree with the way people leave the break rooms and bathrooms. I can't understand if they don't do that at home why on earth would they do that any where else??? It just doesn't make sense to me. But I am still in the learning stage and I can't get enough information.