Food- Drink and Cleaning Up

Purpose

This section sets out rules for food and drink in the office and when on company business.

Scope

This applies to all staff on all occasions in the workplace and when on duty.

Background

Staff need an opportunity to enjoy lunch and refreshments during their working day.  These rules make sure that this enjoyment does not interfere with other people’s work or enjoyment or the company image. 

If people eat or drink in the presence of customers or other staff who are not involved in this activity themselves, it can offend or distract them, or create a bad impression.

Unless it is an agreed part of a group activity such as a meeting, no Staff Member has a duty to serve or clean up after another Staff Member’s food or drink.

Procedure and Rules

Serving and cleaning up after refreshments

There are exceptions to this rule.  See “Shared refreshments” below.

• Make or purchase and serve your own refreshments for yourself.  
• If you use cutlery, crockery or glassware, wash, dry and put it away yourself immediately after use.

Shared refreshments

The following activities are OK:

• Providing, serving and cleaning up after each other’s refreshments on an equal share basis.
• Eating and drinking in front of a client if you are sharing refreshments with the client
• Providing, serving and cleaning up after refreshments as a duty if this is part of a declared formal group activity such as a staff conference or training course.

Office and workplace tidiness

• Do not leave dirty mugs or cups anywhere overnight.
• Do not bring strongly aromatic foods into the workplace.
• If you are throwing away food, wrap it up before putting it in the bin.  If it is likely to smell bad before the bin is emptied, throw it away outside the workplace.
• Do not eat or chew gum while on duty if you are in view of the public or of visiting clients.