Today I smelled the sweet smell of popcorn and thought gee, I would like to partake in some. Â So, I opened my desk drawer and pulled out some of the my favorite buttery popcorn to pop. Â While walking back from the microwave a few people asked if they could have some and of course I said yes. Â While passing another desk, a small voice asked me if I had checked before making the popcorn; I said "why the heck would I ask, the microwave is free for use". Â A little later an e-mail was sent out to the entire office about smelly food. Â I kind of mocked the e-mail.
On the way home I was thinking about the events. Â When I got home I Google'd the the Popcorn in the Office question that I had. Â Apparently I was wrong.
It turns out that popcorn in the office is bad etiquette as the smell often bothers people. Â While the smell may be enticing for some of us; for others it can be very unpleasant. Â Â The smell of popcorn can linger for up to an hour depending on ventilation and that can be very unpleasant. Everyone is entitled to a clean work environment which includes smells ( not just popcorn ).
My advice to everyone, think about the smells and other offensive things you may bring into the office. Â It may be not so nice for the people around you.
In short - I offer my apologies to all the people in all of the offices that I had ever worked. Â I did not know that the smell of popcorn was possibly offensive as well as poor etiquette.