Whether it is ethical to dine at a desk in the presence of colleagues or not is a controversial issue that requires special attention and delicacy. Each individual case should be considered separately, because a person may have their own special circumstances.
Lunch at the desk in the presence of colleagues
It is not entirely ethical to dine at a desk in front of your colleagues, but there are situations when there is simply no other way out. If the office does not have a special room with a dining table, refrigerator and microwave oven, then there is nothing else to do but to eat right at the workplace.
In some situations, it is appropriate to treat employees with cookies or other assorted goodies. This approach will help you get closer and better find common ground. Experienced psychologists advise periodically arranging joint tea parties, then the atmosphere in the team will be bright and light.
You don't have to take any food with you to the office. In some companies it is established to order the delivery of dishes from nearby cafes or canteens. Do not worry too much about lunch at the desk, it is better for a beginner to first find out what traditions and rules are accepted in this team. Over time, you can adapt to any conditions and not be a black sheep.
On the ethics of eating in the presence of colleagues
To ensure that your meal is appropriate and ethical, you can wait until lunchtime and start eating with other colleagues at the same time. In this case, no one will feel uncomfortable, on the contrary, you can have a good time, relax and chat.
It is preferable to take food to the office that does not emit a strong odor. There are ingredients that can be annoying to other people, and this fact is important to consider. Spices and seasonings with a strong aroma can also negatively affect those around you.
You should not neglect the general rules of food intake, which apply to everyone without exception. Eating loudly, chomping and making other characteristic sounds is not accepted in any public place, let alone an office setting.
Why a person can dine in front of colleagues
Even if the team does not dine in the office, you can see a person eating right at his table. You should not consider this wildness, because a person may just have a stomach ulcer or he is on a diet, or he is simply used to eating fractionally. In any case, you need to be sensitive to the characteristics of other people.
Another option is that the employee is trying to save money, because not everyone can have the funds to buy lunch in the canteen. Life situations can be different, and no one is immune from many of them.
