I usually eat lunch at my desk. Yesterday, while I was eating a burger, my coworker—who sits right next to me and is vegan—said, “Stop bringing meat. The smell makes some of us feel sick.” I went home annoyed and uncomfortable.
The next morning, I froze when I saw a company-wide HR email titled “Lunch Etiquette & Shared Workspace Considerations.” It talked about being mindful of strong food smells and using shared spaces respectfully. No names. No accusations. Still, the timing felt too perfect.
When my coworker arrived, I asked her directly if the email was about me. She looked surprised and said yes, she had spoken to HR—but not to report me. She just didn’t know how to handle food sensitivities without sounding rude. She admitted she’d been dealing with nausea and regretted how she’d spoken to me.
That honesty changed everything.
We talked openly about shared spaces, different diets, and how easily misunderstandings grow when no one explains themselves. She shared that her veganism was medical, not personal preference. I explained that my desk was often the only place I could eat.
We compromised. Strong-smelling foods go to the break room when possible. Clear, kind communication goes both ways.
Later, she left homemade vegan cookies on my desk with a note: “For a fresh start.”
Sometimes conflict isn’t about food—it’s about forgetting to talk like humans.
