Workplace microwave etiquette
Microwave etiquette may seem insignificant in the workplace, but how you treat co-workers in the break room has a significant impact on your informal and formal professional relationships. Nobody enjoys using a filthy microwave or smelling stale food. Even heating savoury and tasty meals, can annoy workers except you brought a dish to share.
To show true concern and respect for others, take a few basic measures toward microwave etiquette. As an example;
Clean up after use: Cleaning up after yourself is one of the more obvious parts of proper office microwave etiquette. When you cook up soups and other dishes, it’s fairly uncommon for them to splatter. To avoid this, cover your food and wipe down the microwave if your food is the source of a mess. Your co-workers aren’t keen on putting their own meals on top of your slimy, wet mess. They don’t expect you to pick up after yourself, either.
Return to original setting: Resetting the microwave to its fundamental settings is a little less evident, but equally critical. Microwaves with more advanced capabilities, such as several cooking settings, and power levels, are common in newer, nicer microwaves. If you have to change the microwave settings to cook your dinner, do so and return it to the default setting so that the following person does not have to stress themselves. If your office buddy’s dinner gets overcooked as a result of you leaving the microwave on high power, he may become less cordial.
Think about strong odours: Some folks in your office may be more sensitive to strange odours than others. When determining how to use the microwave, keep this in mind. If at all feasible, choose one that is further away from your work area. Air freshener spray is kept in the break room in some offices. Meals like fish, chicken, meat should be cooked for no more than 30 seconds. If necessary, use this to mask odours. If you truly want to pacify your office mates and avoid the inevitable passive-aggressive workplace microwave letter, you should avoid heating anything with strong scents.
Other microwave users should be respected: One of the most important rules of microwave etiquette is not to tamper with other people’s food. Don’t take someone’s food out of the microwave early and sneak your food in when he isn’t looking. Consider allowing someone else to use the microwave first if her dinner will take significantly less time to prepare than yours.