No Fried Food: Health Dept cringe at new rules...

[ty]

No fried food: Health Dept. workers cringe at new rules restricting foods, fragrances, decorations

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No fried food: Health Dept. workers cringe at new rules restricting foods, fragrances, decorations.

No overbearing perfume. No obscene pictures. And definitely no French fries for work lunches.

That's the new edict for employees of the same city Health Department that brought you calorie-counting menus and snuffed out smoking on beaches and in parks.

The updated rules - which range from what workers can serve at agency powwows to how loud they can talk in the office - come as the Health Department begins to move into its new Queens digs today.

A set of guidelines for "Life in the Cubicle Village" sent to employees asks them to avoid wearing products with "noticeable odors" or posting "any displays, photos, cartoons, or other personal items that may be offensive."

They also should avoid eavesdropping.

If they can't - "at least resist the urge to add your comments," the cubicle rules recommend.

Employees also got a bright-colored brochure stipulating what can and can't be served at meetings and parties.

Tap water is a menu must when food or drinks are served. Other beverages must be less than 25 calories per 8 ounces.

"Cut muffins and bagels into halves or quarters, or order mini sizes. Offer thinly-sliced, whole-grain bread," the brochure states.

Deep-fried foods are an absolute no-no and "cannot be served."

For celebrations, cake and air-popped popcorn - "popped at the party and served in brown paper lunch bags" - are allowed.

But when a "celebration cake" is served, cookies can't be offered.

"These standards are mandatory for meetings and events sponsored by the Health Department," the brochure states.

Health honchos say they are just practicing what they preach.

"The Health Department is leading by example by updating its guidelines for food and beverages served at agency meetings and events," spokeswoman Erin Brady said.

Still, one Health Department worker said she was surprised by the brochure's nitpicking detail.

"This seems like micromanaging," she said.

The cubicle village tips are good - but unnecessary - advice, she said. "As somebody who does not have sensitivity to perfumes or scents or smells of people's foods, I thought it was kind of ridiculous, though I'm sure the people who do have those kinds of problems are grateful."

The gerbil-loving food choices are in step with Health Commissioner Thomas Farley's push to reduce New Yorkers salt, sugar and alcohol consumption.

The Daily News reported in December that he put the kibosh on booze at the agency's holiday bash and called for a menu that included "healthy options."

The agency's nearly 3,000 employees begin a massive move today from their age-old lower Manhattan headquarters to new office space built by Tishman Speyer in Long Island City, Queens.

The move is expected to be complete by May.

[ed1066]

Barack Obama's Amerika...

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Define "obscene"

[Angel!]

We are talking about an employer making rules for what can be served at meeting & parties (that the employers pays for). This seems reasonable to me. The only one that would irk me is that all drinks have to be less than 25 cal/ 8 oz. That pretty much limits you to diet drinks because even 100% juices would have more calories than that.

[billisonboard]

Health honchos say they are just practicing what they preach.

[verrip1]

Those employees would have more freedom if the Taliban was their boss.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Personally I am all for the perfume ban. If people can't use it without hosing themselves in it, then you shouldn't use it. There are people here that I can still smell in the elevator long after they are gone. I am not overly sensitive myself, but whenever one of them is getting on the elevator, I take the stairs.

What happened to just smelling clean? Why do we need to smell like perfume, air freshner, fabric softener, etc?

[Angel!]

I hate when someone before you in the elevator leaves a stench of perfume (or BO, cigarette smoke, etc) in the elevator. When the elevator stops & another person gets on, then you know they think it is you that stinks.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It permeates my clothes too if I get caught in the elevator with them. It's insane that I have to stink all day too. All I can think of is that they must have burned all their nasal cells wearing that much cologne and that's why they don't notice.

[mmhmm]

I don't see a problem. If the employees want to have a party that doesn't comply with the rules laid down by the employer, they can do so at their own expense and off company premises. There's no rule listed that will cause any sort of harm to anyone.

As to ed's link of the New York City Health Department to Obama, I think I'll just remain very glad that doesn't make a lick of sense to me. ;D

[billisonboard]

At one place I worked, occasionally I would come home from work and my ex would say, "I smell that you borrowed your boss' phone today."

[mmhmm]

In most hospitals, employees are not allowed to wear perfume if their job requires them to interact with patients. I've never seen that rule cause anyone undue harm.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I can wear perfume but I can't have a french manicure because I work with bacteria (ever tried to clean under fake nails?). I also have to wear closed toed shoes and long pants/skirts. I haven't died yet.

I can still wear any clothes I want in my off hours.

[mmhmm]

No fake nails on our patient caregivers, either, dramaq, and closed toed shoes are also required. We haven't lost any employees due to these rules, either.

[straydog]

Quote:
They also should avoid eavesdropping.

SD:
Yup, only the powers that be should have a monopoly on that.

I remember back in the late 80s or early 90s that the state of Colorado passed a law that restricted Gays in some manner. Right after that law was passed, Barbara Streisand and her elitist Hollywood buddies immediately held a press conference and called for a boycott against the state of Colorado.

I remember reading somewhere that the NYC government ordered it's employees to honor the boycott and not vacation in Colorado. So these dictates do not surprise me, NYC has been doing this for quite a while.

[floridayankee]

Apr 4, 2011 14:58:08 GMT -5 @ty said:

No fried food: Health Dept. workers cringe at new rules restricting foods, fragrances, decorations.

I think congress needs to pass a new law forcing employers to purchase products they may not want to buy.