DESK DINING

CAPTION: "Our research also indicates that some workers are adopting the ‘Homer Simpson' work diet, regularly eating sweets, biscuits and doughnuts to get them through the day" Jan Para

BOXTEXT: Contacts
Restaurants At Work
01372 747909
www.restaurantsatwork.co.uk

Bartlett Mitchell
01784 471411
www.bartlettmitchell.co.uk

Catermasters
01926 314509
www.catermasters.co.uk

Workplace Law Network
0870 777 8881
www.workplacelaw.net

BOXHEAD: Case study: Portman Building Society, Bournemouth

BOXTEXT: The facilities manager at the Portman Building Society's head office in Bournemouth, Kate Patmore, believes that preventing the company's 1,000 employees from eating hot food at their desks, and enforcing a lunch hour, ensures a happier, healthier workforce and a better overall environment.
She explains: "We banned hot food at people's desks for a number of reasons. We work in a very open-plan office and, although the smell of curry or other strong foods might be OK for some people, once the odour of food gets in the air conditioning, it hangs around for two or three hours, which doesn't make for a pleasant working environment."
Also, people used to get hot food with proper plates and cutlery, which were often left lying around instead of being returned to the canteen, which became a hygiene issue.
"Personally," Patmore says, "I would prefer it if eating at desks were banned altogether. In other places I've worked, we've had to clean out desk pedestals where people have left half-eaten sandwiches or dirty plates in their drawers, which have just grown mould. It's not very pleasant."
She also believes that providing adequate eating facilities for staff is important. The canteen, run by Catermasters, seats 100-120 people at a time, and has eight full- and part-time staff as well as a full-time manager.
Patmore says that enforcing a lunch hour, even where employees are allowed to eat at their desks, is definitely good for health and morale.
"We're very diligent about making sure our staff take breaks away from their stations," she says, "and making sure they have a proper lunch break is part of that.
"Many of them go to the canteen, and lots of them will go shopping as well, because we're right in the heart of Bournemouth town centre. So it means they do stretch their legs and have time to relax a bit during their working day, which means a happier and healthier workplace."