In the morning, at noon or just in between - the coffee kitchen is visited by many employees every day.
Cleanliness often doesn't work that reliably.
When you come to the office in the morning, the path often leads to the kitchen - to organize coffee, tea or water.
That's where the first trouble of the day can start - no more clean cups or glasses, the worktop is dirty or the coffee machine is broken.
The cleanliness in many office kitchens is always a problem - this is actually a very useful place for the exchange with each other.
“Often the most important information flows through informal exchange.
Bosses should be happy if the employees are often in the coffee kitchen," career adviser Martin Wehrle told the
German Press Agency (dpa).
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Coffee kitchen: Clear rules are needed
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A nice chat in the office kitchen is a daily task for many.
However, cleanliness in the kitchen can also become a contentious issue.
(icon picture)
© Yaroslav Astakhov/Imago
"Just as you found a room - namely clean - you should leave it again," said etiquette expert Christina Tabernig to
dpa.
But it is not that easy to implement, and clear rules are often required as to who is responsible for loading and unloading the dishwasher.
It could always be other teams taking turns.
Of course, other agreements can also be made, but it is important that these are communicated and that someone coordinates the tasks.
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Can my boss force me to clean up the office kitchen?
In principle, you cannot be forced to clean up the coffee kitchen if this is not part of the contracted tasks.
If the cleaning of the kitchen is not in the employment contract for any employee, it is the employer's obligation to ensure order in the office kitchen, said Dr.
Nathalie Oberthür, specialist lawyer for labor law, to the
Kölnische Rundschau
.
However, that does not mean that employees no longer have to worry about the cleanliness of the office kitchen.
Employers can make the use of the kitchen subject to certain conditions, for example “putting your own dishes in the dishwasher and removing any dirt you have caused yourself”, Oberthür informs.
(
with dpa information
)
Rubric list image: © Yaroslav Astakhov/Imago