I eat my lunch at my work desk. My colleague, who sits right next to me, is vegan. Yesterday, I was having a burger and she said, “Stop bringing meat! You’re not alone—some of us feel sick from the smell.” I was surprised, because I had never had an issue eating my meals quietly, and no one had raised a concern before. I politely told her I understood her preference, but that everyone at work had different dietary choices.
This morning, I came to work and froze in shock. I saw that HR has placed a notice on the office bulletin board requesting employees to be mindful of strong-smelling foods in shared areas. It didn’t mention me or the incident, but I knew what sparked it. My heart sank—not because I was in trouble, but because I didn’t expect the situation to escalate beyond a simple comment between coworkers.
