The company lunchroom may look a lot different after COVID-19 changed the way we focus on food. Leftovers aren’t shared, and snacks are packaged individually to deter the spread of the virus. Perks such as coffee makers that are high-touch items and water coolers may also be shut down.
According to Fast Company, employees may be asked to bring their own beverages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in its guidelines for office buildings that employers should encourage staff “to bring their own water to minimize use and touching of water fountains or consider installing no-touch activation methods for water fountains.”
For companies that still offer coffee, individual coffee stirrers, as well as single-serving packages of sweeteners and cream are recommended. They should also outfit break rooms or kitchen areas with disposable sanitizing wipes and disposable dishes and utensils, according to Fast Company.
Touchless food deliveries are on the rise, along with staggered lunch breaks to allow elevators to run at reduced capacity. Some companies offer boxed lunches for their workers that are delivered and clearly labeled.
“We provide individually packaged lunches for our essential employees five days a week to thank them and keep them safe,” said Elizabeth Wilkie, an executive assistant at Resurgent Capital Services, adding that meals are consolidated into one delivery at a designated time and place to reduce the flow of traffic in the building.
For those who eat lunch at the office, experts advise sanitizing all surfaces and washing your hands before and after the meal. Since it is not possible to eat and drink while wearing a mask, companies should ensure that their break rooms or other communal areas have socially distanced seating. Here again, staggering lunch hours can reduce traffic. Better still, according to Fast Company, eat at your desk.
Experts suggest that eating virtually with other members of the workplace can help keep employees connected and still safe.
Lynn C. Allison ✉
Lynn C. Allison, a Newsmax health reporter, is an award-winning medical journalist and author of more than 30 self-help books.
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