The workplace kitchen is the modern day equivalent of a watering hole—a place where diverse species of animals can collect to escape the oppressive heat of the afternoon sun. Its modern day equivalent, the lunch room, is one of only a few places in the workplace where workers can relax, and enjoy the company of their colleagues. However, like animals at a watering hole, who inch closer and closer to its shores to come into contact with its nurturing waters—forgetting for a moment the threat of crocodiles which lurk just beneath the water’s calm, serene surface—employees at their watering hole must too be on their guard. Employees must be cognizant of how their actions within this context may impact their career. Caviler or reckless behavior could prove perilous, and the consequences of such behavior could be quite severe.
The truth is, it’s easy to let your guard down in the office kitchen—sitting around a table with your closest colleagues, sharing a meal creates a context in which, or so the perception goes, you might feel comfortable sharing your feelings, and recounting the day’s events. Remember, however, that whatever you share is public. Although there are no crocodiles hiding beneath the kitchen’s waxed tile floor waiting to gobble you up should you say something uncouth, offensive, or mean-spirited about one of your fellow employees, you never know how your comments might sit with those listening at a distance. You should, of course, feel comfortable in the kitchen—lunch, after all, should provide you with a brief respite from a hectic day. However, you will want to keep a few things in mind while in the kitchen.
- How’s the weather? I am not, of course, suggesting that employees only talk about overtly benign topics during their lunch break, such as the weather, their workload, or the drive in that morning. Topics of discussion should, however, be filtered. Resist talking about fellow employees in a way which could be interpreted as demeaning or mean hearted. If you have a problem with one of your coworkers, or your boss, it would be best to choose another forum in which to vent those frustrations.
- Who’s there? Even if no one, beyond your immediate group of work friends, is in the kitchen with you, be aware that sound can oftentimes travel in an office. Even though a coworker may not be eavesdropping, they might unintentionally overhear whatever you are talking about.
- A little kitchen banter won’t affect my career, right? Wrong. The workplace is a professional environment, and as such, employees should be acutely aware of the image they are projecting at all times—even at lunch time, regardless of whether the lunch is in or out of the office. Although your manager may not indict you for a little kitchen banter, such might severely damage his or her perception of you (which could harm your long-term career prospects).
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