I eat my lunch at my work desk. My colleague, who sits right next to me, is vegan. Yesterday, I was having a burger, and she said gently, “Could you please not bring meat to the desk? The smell makes me feel sick.” Her tone wasn’t harsh, but I could tell it made her uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t trying to upset anyone it was just lunch.
This morning, I came into the office and froze. A new notice was posted on the bulletin board from HR: “To maintain a comfortable environment for everyone, please use the break room for meals with strong scents.” No one was named, but I understood what had prompted it.
