Office celebrations are a great time for staff to gather and socialize, but could these celebrations also be bad for your health? Civil service workers in the United Kingdom (U.K.) were recently asked to stop bringing in cake for fear it would put other workers in danger, labeling cake a “public health hazard.”
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In a Gov.UK blog post, Liza Pawlowska explains why employees need to be “mindful” of bringing in sweet treats, and it’s not only due to health-related issues but also for those particular staffers who have a hard time resisting sweets. Pawlowska’s post comes on the heels of a BBC report that looks at the dangers of office “cake culture.”
According to the BBC, dentists in the U.K. are saying that sweets are contributing to health problems, especially poor oral hygiene. However, it’s not just your teeth you should be concerned about. Consuming vast quantities of sweets is also a huge factor in the obesity epidemic that seems to be plaguing many countries, not just the United States. The Faculty of Dental Surgery offers some tips to cut back on sugar, including keeping sweets as a lunchtime treat or hiding them out of view. Other tips include:
- Consider low-sugar alternatives.
- Reduce portion sizes.
- Avoid snacking, and keep sugar as a lunchtime treat.
- Keep a “sugar schedule” to limit sugar intake.
- Think about where sweet treats are positioned—if they are nearby and visible, people may eat more.
Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of Faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) says, “We need a culture change in offices and other workplaces that encourages healthy eating and helps workers avoid caving in to sweet temptations such as cakes, sweets, and biscuits.” The RCS is seeing an uptick in sweets and cakes being brought into larger offices, which is becoming a daily occurrence for some. However, the RCS’s suggestions are being hit with mixed reviews.
The BBC interviewed one woman who says, “I think this is yet another example of the ‘nanny’ state trying to shape our lives when it really isn’t really necessary.
“Cakes that are bought into the workplace are usually for a birthday or some other special occasion and what do you do when there is an ‘occasion’—you have cake …
“It is all about moderation, having small instead of large, not having too often and delighting in the huge enjoyment you get when you do.” If your office is notorious for having lots of cake, you could just call out sick, like Elaine did in Seinfeld. Although, don’t expect to be covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act!
 Melissa Blazejak is a Senior Web Content Editor at BLR. She has written articles for HR.BLR.com and the HR Daily Advisor websites and is responsible for the day-to-day management of HR.BLR.com and HRLaws.com. She has been at BLR since 2014. She graduated with a BA of Science, specializing in Communication, from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2008. Most recently, she graduated in 2014 with a MS of Educational Technology. |