Topic: Is your office team allowed to eat lunch in the office?

Often times when I visit a property I am surprised how often someone is eating lunch at their desk and the office is filled with the scent of food.

Does your team eat in the office where a prospect or resident can see them?

I usually do not eat lunch in the office; occasionally I will close the office and bring lunch in for my maintenance manager and I (usually Subway or something like it). It is not a problem as my office is for me alone.

I completely understand what you are saying, Mark! For exactly the reason you said, cooking and heating up in the microwave is not allowed at lunchtime because it can smell up the leasing area. The Leasing Area is kept free from food items, except for candy and treats that Prospects can also eat.

Other areas that are not in view of Residents and Prospects can have food and drinks, so team members can eat at their desks there if they don't want to leave the office. I encourage bottled water and fruit and keep the refigerator stocked with that.

Thanks for replying and it is good that your office is just for you and most importantly that you close it. Subway sanswiches typically don't have a strong odor but Taco Bell or McDonalds is a different story.

Good for you Mindy and kudos for providing a separate area!

I do not do fast food mexican... too picky.... the exception is I do occasionally do Chipotle..... But not usually for lunch and certainly not takeout.... And I NEVER do McD's...

I am going to say it depends. There are times when there may be some special event that is being held for the community and it is nice when prospects can observe this and even be welcomed in, so they can meet and chat with others in the community.

On normal day to day operations, I think it is good to have an area that is away and out of sight of potential residents and customers. First to be eating it should be relaxing and a "me time" if you will. Rotate your people if you must, but let them get away. It can make stress for your people to have them eating at their desk and be interrupted even by their supervisor. For the customer or perspective tenant to see food stains on clothing, on the desk, food particles in the teeth, real strong garlic smell coming out of the mouth not pretty. Eating and having to shake hands of a person that their hygiene is questionable can also spoil ones appetite. Talking with a full mouth, or having to swallow without properly chewing your food! I think we get the picture. So, I think away from the desk, away from the customers is the best policy.

Nate,
Thanks for posting and I totally agree with taking the time to enjoy a meal out of the way as often as possible. Sometimes a few minutes is all that is needed to charge one's batteries.

Nate,
Thanks for posting and I totally agree with taking the time to enjoy a meal out of the way as often as possible. Sometimes a few minutes is all that is needed to charge one's batteries.

Yes, food is consumed at the desk, no separate area unless we go off site.

While it is against company policy, it sometimes happens in my office, I'm guilty myself. Often times we are just too busy to get out. Our only saving grace is that we don't conduct prospect visits within the office, we have a seperate library for that. I could close the office doors, but my residents just see that as a reason to bang on the door. If our vehicles are here they beleive we are open for business no matter what the sign on the door says. I swear to you, the only way they will not knock on the door is if we park our cars in the trash garage and stealthily (sp?) enter the building :)
The best is when they barge in and are like "oh I don't want to disturb you but...."
We honestly do make an effort for the most part to eat lunch off-site, sometimes it's just not possible :(

Somedays it cannot be avoided. It's either eat at your desk or starve, but most of the time lunch is eaten out of the leasing area. I agree that it is distracting to eat at your desk. Prospects can feel uncomfortable disturbing your lunch, and can rush through your property. Residents, on the other hand, will sit down and stay awhile.

I know it is so tough to get away and eat in peace sometimes. I have been on property and know exactly what you mean about people knocking on the door until someone comes and answers. Funny how we know their cars, kids, pets, and habits and sometimes don't realize how much the residents know our habits and tendencies.

Have you ever had any comment on an office having a strong food odor or do you think it has ever affected a prospects impression?

I think eveyone is guilty of this, I mean in property management we are expected to do 12 hours of work in an 8 hour day, and often that 1 hour lunch break is unpaid, but we are working. If we eat in the office, as soon as we are done we spray some air freshner if the food left a smell in the office. We dont close for lunch, we stagger our lunches to be available to our residents, but we have a break room off the office area, so whomever is eating isnt bothered, I try to protect time off, its a mental health break. I take my lunch to sometimes just walk around the local mall, or walk my property, just to get up and walk around. The only thing I am dead set against is eating at your desk, it is so tacky, someone walks in and you have a mouth full of food and your half eaten sandwhich on your desk, so unprofessional. And when we dare to close and eat together our residents bang on the door and shake it, until we are sure the door will break, at whihc point we send a sacrifical maint guy out to tell them that the office is closed for a meeting and will reopen at whatever time is clearly posted on the front door.

Though my team snacks on the "resident/office" treats I ask that they do not eat at their desks or in the office. Not only do they need a mental break from working, I don't want my residents seeing anyone sitting at their desk eating. I feel it is unprofessional. :kiss:

Thanks for posting. Being so busy is often a double edge sword and I know many of us just have so much to do between the demands of the property and management. I always feel bad walking in on someone trying to eat lunch but if I just walk into a room shortly after someone has eaten but I didn't see anyone eating it seems bothers me more. Not sure why, maybe due the surprise of it.

Most of my sites and office locations have a "break room" or a designated area for breaks and lunch time. We don't allow our staff to eat at their desk or in front of residents. But we ensure they have a place they can take a break at.

Pedro,
I agree if everyone can have a place to go it is better for everyone and I hope everyine can take 5 minutes away from their desk to eat lunch, or, in some cases inhale their lunch.

Lunch??? I sometimes ask myself what that is..... Usually when I realize I am hungry and it is already 3 o'clock.....