‘Hands off my mug!’

The politics of the office kitchen

Ever innocently used a mug from the cupboard to find you’re inundated with notes and emails about taking people’s personal possessions? You’re not the only one.

We’ve all seen the passive aggressive notes pinned on the kitchen wall. They usually begin with the words “Your mother doesn’t work here” and go on with a host of crazed rants, using eight quirky fonts. They end with some kind of Mafia-style warning about the consequences of continuing this behaviour.

Paperstone’s steps to kitchen nirvana

The kitchen at Paperstone HQ is no different to many small businesses’ communal spaces around the UK. We often have to contend with a soggy mound of teabags next to the kettle; an overflowing bin in the corner; and unwashed plates and bowls in the kitchen sink.

We don’t have all the answers, but we do have a few suggestions to minimise stress around the kitchen sink.

1) Prevent mug rage
Invest in branded mugs. Did you know you can order branded mugs through us? Give us a call and we’ll take care of the rest. If everyone’s mugs look the same, there are no arguments about using personal possessions.

2) Get organised
A kitchen utopia cannot exist without some constructs of order. Put people’s name down for the various jobs and pin it up in the kitchen. Everyone needs to pitch in and help – especially in a small business.

3) Keep cupboards stocked
Nothing is more likely to cause mutiny than running out of tea or coffee. So keep your cupboards supplied with all the essentials.

When ‘the kitchen fairy’ gets really mad

Exasperated workers have tried to teach people a lesson for their anti-social behaviour, which usually centres on someone stealing food or taking a bite (yes, just one bite), from their lunch.

There are notes like “To the person who stole my sandwich (again), don’t worry about the mouth ulcers that are developing – I’m sure they’re nothing.”

And then there are extreme pay-backs. Like a one lady who was so fed up with someone stealing her milk that she substituted it with her breast milk. She explained her dastardly ruse in a note attached to the bottle at the end of the week, commenting that at least the milk was organic.

Revenge is sweet.