Hot Food at work

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This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

My work place does not supply a microwave either! I am allergic to Wheat, Yeast and Dairy and find it impossible to buy hot food at lunch. My current only option is to have salads every lunch time!! I would like to bring food from home but have no means of heating it up. Can anyone advise whether my condition fall under a certain health and safely law?

Ciene

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This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

Gary
How do you reconcile your comment at (1) with the ACOP to Regulation 25 of the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) regs 1992? Para 232 advises that workers who work during hours or at places where hot food cannot be obtained in, or reasonaby near to, the workplace should be provided with the means for heating their own food. If your canteen isn't providing hot food (since you believe hot food isn't a requirement) what alternative arrangements have you made?

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Looking at the posts on this subject, there seems to be a number of issues people are trying to address;

1. eating food at work- hot food is not a requirement, we do not live in a society where we are malnourished or need hot food to staive of the cold- canteens where provided are the place to eat, not at your desk, where you risk cross contamination from spilt food, electrocution from electrical equipment, and DSE related symptoms from sitting on the computer through your lunch break twittering rather than having a proper break from the screen.
2. the issues of whether when something is withdrawn,do you have a right to it, is one that is constantly misused-withdrawal of kettles and microwaves is normally an indication of a lazy Health and Safety policy, backed up by inadequate risk assessments- someone might scald them selves, take away the kettle, someone might get nuked by a leaky microwave door, take it away.
however, just because you had something in the past, doesnt mean you are entitled to one in the future. its about being reasonable.
3. employers seem to think that because the market is bad, people will not move on- thats ok as long as the market is depressed, but what is happening to employee relations while this is going on?
the issues of food safety are simple, if you are heating up your food, you are resposible to ensure it is safe to eat,
if you have a grievance, then put it to the management in writng and start dialogue,
if you clearly are not happy with things, go and look for another job, they are out there.
i am an Ex Royal Marine, now HR & H & S in the private sector, as well as being a clasically trained chef, so i can see all points of view, even if i dont agree with them................

Can someone tell me, if i can be stopped from eating a takeaway meal at work. There is a canteen which is expensive and mostly inedible and we are allowed to bring in sandwiches and other food from home, however, after a couple of years of doing so, have now been told that takeaway food is not acceptable. Since where is it written that a company can designate what you eat at work?

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Hi Sarah

It depends on a few factors.

1) What is the type of work being done (i.e. phone calls etc?)
2) Liquids near electrical equipment is a hazard
3) Is there anywhere else for you to eat your food?

More information please!

Hi

Can i ask, is it illegal to stop food and drink being consumed at your desk at work? or is it at the descretion of the company?

Thanks
xx

No, there isn't! BUT you may need to check with your landlord (if property is leased), local authority, building control, Fire Service, environmental health, insurers, trading standards, etc,etc as the responsibility for the catering/food preparation area and equipment in it will be yours. You would also be responsible for all the Risk Assessments required for Health & Safety purposes.

Ideally you would also need to draw up a formal agreement / contract with the individual and look at some form of service level agreement too so that both parties know exactly where they stand should any issues arise.

we recently had an outside snack bar bring some sandwiches in to our eating area,the owner of the sandwich bar has asked if it would be possible to set up a counter where it would be possible to make sandwiches and provide a hot sandwich. Is there any legislation that says he can or cannot do this. Thanks
T Williamson

We have a serviced office and our landlady has recently told us we're not allowed to eat hot food on the premises. We do not expect her to provide any facilities but occassionally it is nice to be able to eat food from the chip shop near by without having to stand in the rain to eat it. Can she do this?

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Julia -
Also two issues - you say 'remove the microwave' - how long had it been there? They are changing your terms and conditions by removing it and not replacing it, and unless they have specific reasons (abuse of it by staff or Health and safety, for instance) you have a good argument for it to come back.
Second, re no break, if you work over six hours you are entitled to a break, and although there are special rules for night workers, see the recent ruling that breaktime must be allowed.

Hi Julia

Please look at my last post in this thread (4 above your last post).

hi, wonder if you can help me? My bosses in their wisdom, have deemed it necessary to remove the microwave cooker that we had at work. Three of us staff work nights, with no form of break. we are all lone workers, so therefore dont get a break as such, and now we have no way of heating up any hot food? Is there anything we can do?
thanks

There are rules about the temperature of the workplace - it should be 'reasonable'. The official minimum is 16 degrees for offices, but the HSE does say it depends on other factors too (humidity etc), so this may not be the sole 'reasonable' factor.
If the heater is by your desk so that is over 16 degrees, but the the loos are freezing, I'm not sure if that is reasonable. I should make sure you raise the issue with management before winter sets in!

Can anybody please answer this for me'

Does a company have to provide sufficient heating within the workplace? the heating has packed up and all I have is 1 small heater. I work totally on my own and the the building is rather large

That seems a little harsh. Para 232 WHSW ACOP gives detail of what is suitable and sufficient. The ACOP further goes on to say that the employer must provide a means for heating food if there is nowhere reasonable. If that means a microwave or cooker then you would be able to use that to boil water.

I work in a private hospital and recently the employers took away our tea, coffee etc. Not a problem as most of us bring in our own teabags and coffee but they have now said we can not use the jackson which we have always used to make our hot drinks. There is a new vending machine which we have to pay for. We are not allowed to have a kettle and were told that if we wont use the vending machine we must bring in our own flasks of hot water. This is not always suitable for people who use public transport and are already carrying their lunch with them. The hospital is not near any shops and we have always had our hot drinks provided.

My fault Kevin, my last post does indeed read like I expect employers to supply the food too. Of course what I meant was that employers provide the means by which to heat food bought or brought in by the employee.
Still, I didn't think an employer had a legal obligation to provide the means? Is this correct?

No more red herrings, at least not from me - we're not allowed them ;-)