Work Fridge Vent

[Disney_Alli]

As I mentioned in another thread I am basically required to eat my lunch in my office at my desk and rather than eat from our restaurant every day I bring my own food. We have a small (I'd guess dorm sized) fridge in our office. Our entire department including our manager who shares our office includes a grand total of 7 people (2 dayshift, 2 swingshift, 2 nightshift, 1 manager) at the absolute most there are only 3 people in the office at one time. We try not to leave food in the fridge but especially when you'll be back in 12 hours it's fine to leave small items. One of my coworkers never brings food that needs to be refrigerated and at most keeps an insulated cup of water in the fridge on her days off (let's not get into the why of that at the moment) my issue is that she keeps leaving the fridge door "closed" but not latched so the fridge isn't staying cold. When I left this morning I hadn't eaten part of my food from last night (basically my breakfast a container of lunch meat, cheese, hummus, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. When I came in tonight to put my "dinner" meal in the fridge with my breakfast from yesterday I noticed that once again the fridge door wasn't "latched" and the entire fridge was warm.

I am admittedly paranoid about food safety and food storage as I've had food poising in the past and had a health issue in the past where I was sick (vomiting) every day for months and absolutely no one could tell me what was wrong. I never got a diagnosis and eventually it just stopped but if I never vomit again it will be too soon. I'm now scared to eat my own food that I know was originally stored and packed safely as I don't know how long it was without refrigeration. This really annoys me on a number of levels from food waste, to my money being wasted, to the lack of consideration shown by my coworker.

Thank you for letting me rant.

 

[ronandannette]

As I mentioned in another thread I am basically required to eat my lunch in my office at my desk and rather than eat from our restaurant every day I bring my own food. We have a small (I'd guess dorm sized) fridge in our office. Our entire department including our manager who shares our office includes a grand total of 7 people (2 dayshift, 2 swingshift, 2 nightshift, 1 manager) at the absolute most there are only 3 people in the office at one time. We try not to leave food in the fridge but especially when you'll be back in 12 hours it's fine to leave small items. One of my coworkers never brings food that needs to be refrigerated and at most keeps an insulated cup of water in the fridge on her days off (let's not get into the why of that at the moment) my issue is that she keeps leaving the fridge door "closed" but not latched so the fridge isn't staying cold. When I left this morning I hadn't eaten part of my food from last night (basically my breakfast a container of lunch meat, cheese, hummus, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. When I came in tonight to put my "dinner" meal in the fridge with my breakfast from yesterday I noticed that once again the fridge door wasn't "latched" and the entire fridge was warm.

I am admittedly paranoid about food safety and food storage as I've had food poising in the past and had a health issue in the past where I was sick (vomiting) every day for months and absolutely no one could tell me what was wrong. I never got a diagnosis and eventually it just stopped but if I never vomit again it will be too soon. I'm now scared to eat my own food that I know was originally stored and packed safely as I don't know how long it was without refrigeration. This really annoys me on a number of levels from food waste, to my money being wasted, to the lack of consideration shown by my coworker.

Thank you for letting me rant.

Bummer.

At my workplace, whenever anybody gets ticked off at antics regarding the communal fridge a BIG note goes up on the front addressing the issue. Why not tape up something in big, bold letters that says "MAKE SURE THE FRIDGE IS LATCHED WHEN YOU CLOSE IT!!!"?

 

[Searc]

Can you bring your own cooler and leave it under your desk?

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Problem solver ...….
https://www.amazon.com/RCA-RFR321-F...1576557959&sprefix=mini+fridge,aps,273&sr=8-3

 

[Disney_Alli]

I'll probably just talk to her in person when she's back in next week. It's just annoying being stuck at work without enough food for 12 hrs when you thought you'd have enough.

 

[KMarston]

The last place I worked I actually bought my own fridge because I wanted a good sized freezer! I think it’s important to be able to keep your necessities Frye week instead of wasting your precious time each morning packing a lunch for the day. I’d absolutely have a discussion with my coworkers to determine the best solution for everyone.

 

[emer95]

Our fridge at work always stinks. Always. People clean it out, but no matter what there is a terrible odor. I bought an insulated lunch bag and I have two little ice packs, and now I never have to open that stinky fridge again.

 

[morgan98]

We have several large fridges as we are a big office. They are almost always a stinky mess, no matter what anyone does to them. In addition, yes, there are people who help themselves to things that don't belong to them too.

I have an insulated lunch bag (good sized) and I bring my own ice packs. Problem solved. I have never gotten sick or had any issues keeping my food at my desk.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Permanently smelly refrigerators - check the drip pan.

 

[jrmasm]

Hey people, don't put your giant insulated lunch bags in the refrigerator!

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH had his own dorm-sized fridge in his office to keep his Dr. Pepper nice and cold. His employer (very large company) issued an edict banning the fridges because each one cost some $0.50 electricity per month. I think DH would have gladly had the $6.00 annual fee deducted from his salary. Now he telecommutes so it's no longer an issue.

 

[morgan98]

Permanently smelly refrigerators - check the drip pan.

Ummm - this is not the problem. The problem is people are nasty and leave all sorts of stuff in there way too long.

 

[Searc]

Our fridge at work always stinks. Always. People clean it out, but no matter what there is a terrible odor. I bought an insulated lunch bag and I have two little ice packs, and now I never have to open that stinky fridge again.

Yep. A simple solution to a simple problem.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ummm - this is not the problem. The problem is people are nasty and leave all sorts of stuff in there way too long.

While frequently true, it sounds like both/all of these refrigerators are not juśt cleaned out, but cleaned. Regularly and thoroughly. But they still stink. So the problem is very likely the drip pans.

 

[mrodgers]

Hey people, don't put your giant insulated lunch bags in the refrigerator!

Try working in a factory rather than an office. Guys working labor don't carry their lunch in cute little lunch bags. They carry enough to feed an army in igloo coolers and pile them in the fridge.

 

[LCoulter]

I had a co-worker who often left the frig wide open while she proceeded to toast and butter bread, and make her cup of coffee. So it’s probably wide open for at least 5-6 minutes. Surprisingly she is germaphobe and always worried about getting sick. Guess she isn’t worried about food poisoning.

 

[_19disnA]

Why not tape up something in big, bold letters that says "MAKE SURE THE FRIDGE IS LATCHED WHEN YOU CLOSE IT!!!"?

Think this is a good idea. If several people use the same refrigerator, not clear how the OP is certain it is one specific person. If you see someone not close it, that would be a great time to tell them. Communal refrigs are always an issue at our office, so most either bring a cooler/insulated bag or lunches that don't require refrigeration. Would hate to see what the refrig looks like at the home of several of these people LOL.

 

[anniemae]

I would either get my own small fridge for my office or just bring a small cooler every day with ice packs. Much easier. I would be worried that even if I did go to the fridge and it was shut tight, it could have been left open for a long time and someone else closed it. So your food could have been warmed up then cooled down.

 

[KPeterso]

We have a full size communal fridge on each floor of my office. There are always leaving half eaten things in there covered with a paper plate or small juice/smoothie bottles in there and then just leave them. They finally started putting full size containers of communal milk/creamer in one of doors since there was often 8-10 quarts of milk and creamer that different people have. I look forward to the last weekend of each month when it gets cleaned, but it really should be every week. Some of the food will be leftovers from team lunches that stay in there for a week or more. Yuck! I am having freezer issues at home or I would just use an ice pack in my lunch bag and not bother with the fridge.

 

[bakerworld]

I work in a 7 - with me, 8 - person department where everyone uses the apartment sized fridge. Consequently, I do not use the fridge. I drink warm beverages and room temp/safe food so I am not accused of eating others food, using special creamers and/or salad dressings. I've worked in this department since 2008 and realized the 1st month that using the fridge was a 'no go'. But every year I have to defrost and clean the fridge - and it is disgusting (how do people leave their hair in a fridge!). Ok - that felt good - thank you.