I think I've vented before about the level of professionalism steadily declining in the work place but I just have to say something.
If you are eating at your desk good for you, I guess, I do it every day. It is a way to keep from leaving the office for take out, take a quick break, whatever. I know you aren't supposed to stay glued to your desk but I find that is the only way to keep others from talking to me when I am at lunch. I'm not anti-social BUT I read at lunch and for some unknown reason if I am in the lunchroom reading, that means please talk to me about nonsense because I am CLEARLY not busy. Open iPad means leave me alone! If you have something to tell me okay but don't ramble on about nothing, that annoys me. Wow this got sidetracked...back to my original rant.
If you are eating at you desk, that is fine. But here are a few pointers.
1. Do NOT answer the phone with a mouthful of food! I can't tell you how many times I've called a client and they answer around a bite of food. Goodness let me go to voice mail and call me back OR chew, swallow and then answer. This is not rocket science people! I don't need to hear you smacking/chewing/swallowing in my ear, its a bit gross and completely unprofessional. If I found out one of my minions did that I would not be a happy boss lady!
2. Do NOT call someone while you are chewing! If you must call someone while you are lunching do so between bites. I got a call recently from someone smacking and sucking their teeth while trying to ask me to do something for them. Are you that freaking hungry that you cannot wait to eat until you are off the phone?!?!? Or call me when you are done with your meal. We were on the phone for less than five minutes...why are you doing that...
3. Do NOT sip your drink while on a call. You may think you are being stealthy but I can hear you swallowing!!! And it is like a thousand times louder on my end, *gulp gulp gulp*. Unless you are in need of water because of being sick (which I can usually tell) or whatever, then excuse yourself. That's what PROFESSIONALS do. Say excuse me, move the receiver AWAY from your mouth, sip, swallow and then return to me.
I am your business associate please treat me like one, I am not your family or friend wanting to gossip about blah blah blah...even then that is just rude! If I am on the phone and start eating while talking to my bestie, I say "sorry for the noise, I am trying to finish eating". But I usually have a reason, otherwise I stop, chat, then eat after OR I tell her I am eating and she lets me call her back!!! Or I just don't answer and call her later...is it really that hard to ignore a call?
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