Comments on: Can your agents eat and drink at their desks? http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm The UK's most popular call centre magazine Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:45:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Wright http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-2#comment-29027 David Wright Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:37:53 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-29027 Spillproof cups and frequent breaks have eliminated our problems. My partner and I enjoy coffee at our desk and believe our employees should enjoy the same. Spillproof cups and frequent breaks have eliminated our problems. My partner and I enjoy coffee at our desk and believe our employees should enjoy the same.

]]> By: Keye http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-2#comment-28332 Keye Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:58:45 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-28332 I work part-time at a local hospital. We received a memorandum last week stating that we are not allowed to bring in outside food which forces employees to eat in the cafeteria at the hospital which is unsanitary and is only open during the day hours but employees work shifts around the clock. An employee was terminated last Friday for bringing Popeyes chicken in. Several employees were not aware of this policy. This weekend most staff members were sneaking to their vehicles to eat lunch. Is this legal? And if not is there some place I can reference the law that prohibits this cruel and unusal policy? I work part-time at a local hospital. We received a memorandum last week stating that we are not allowed to bring in outside food which forces employees to eat in the cafeteria at the hospital which is unsanitary and is only open during the day hours but employees work shifts around the clock. An employee was terminated last Friday for bringing Popeyes chicken in. Several employees were not aware of this policy. This weekend most staff members were sneaking to their vehicles to eat lunch. Is this legal? And if not is there some place I can reference the law that prohibits this cruel and unusal policy?

]]> By: Marcus http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15216 Marcus Mon, 04 May 2009 14:08:06 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-15216 My company (pre-need investigations and financing) sent me to the philippines to assess the situation there are see what the working conditions were, since we outsourced a portion of our customer service there. I just have to say, these agents are appalling! don't get me wrong, i'm practically part filipino, which was why they sent me, but good grief, the agents were absolute slobs! they would remove their socks and put up their feet on the stations, with a plate of unfinished food and a drink or two at the side, which has a decent amount spilled in various places. i couldn't help but cringe. i snapped some pictures and sent them back to the mother company as proof. this is just sad. i know a lot of filipinos and they are not like this. truth be told, a lot of filipinos are even more cultured and well-mannered than most americans and brits. they don't cuss readily, they certainly bathe more often, and their oral hygiene puts most foreigners to shame. these agents, however, are the worst of the lot. we have at least three accounts in three different contact centers and i am recommending a thorough review of just how the agents behave and maintain office decorum in the country. if they don't care to act professionally, then i don't think they should be representing our company. My company (pre-need investigations and financing) sent me to the philippines to assess the situation there are see what the working conditions were, since we outsourced a portion of our customer service there. I just have to say, these agents are appalling! don’t get me wrong, i’m practically part filipino, which was why they sent me, but good grief, the agents were absolute slobs! they would remove their socks and put up their feet on the stations, with a plate of unfinished food and a drink or two at the side, which has a decent amount spilled in various places. i couldn’t help but cringe. i snapped some pictures and sent them back to the mother company as proof. this is just sad. i know a lot of filipinos and they are not like this. truth be told, a lot of filipinos are even more cultured and well-mannered than most americans and brits. they don’t cuss readily, they certainly bathe more often, and their oral hygiene puts most foreigners to shame. these agents, however, are the worst of the lot. we have at least three accounts in three different contact centers and i am recommending a thorough review of just how the agents behave and maintain office decorum in the country. if they don’t care to act professionally, then i don’t think they should be representing our company.

]]> By: onstream agent http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-14577 onstream agent Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:00:07 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-14577 we are allowed food and drink at our desks, but as with many offices some people dont like to clean up after themselves which can resort in some dirty stick desks, we are also allowed to order take away out of hours as we are a 24 hour call center. we are allowed food and drink at our desks, but as with many offices some people dont like to clean up after themselves which can resort in some dirty stick desks,
we are also allowed to order take away out of hours as we are a 24 hour call center.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-13273 Jackie Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:11:24 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-13273 At the call centre I'm at at the moment anything goes. There are only 4 of us though, and we all have our own desks. At my previous job though it was only water in a sports bottle allowed. Our calls just came to us with no warning so there was no chance to eat while on duty. At the call centre I’m at at the moment anything goes. There are only 4 of us though, and we all have our own desks.

At my previous job though it was only water in a sports bottle allowed. Our calls just came to us with no warning so there was no chance to eat while on duty.

]]> By: Nick http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8624 Nick Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:17:31 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-8624 I think it is fair to say that the environment and demands on individuals should determine any policies around consumption at your work station. Added to which, consistency is essential. Guidance on "variations" within rules i.e if you need a knife and fork you cant eat it - refer to the fish and chips with fingers incident. To me, keep it simple and easy to understand so it does not create an issue. A discussion point I have found very useful in allowing teams to set their own standard in this area is - A question to everyone who has said "yes, eating at your desk is fine" and you are in a call centre. How would you feel if the next time you were at Tesco, a mobile phone shop or booking your summer holidays for example, the person helping you was munching down on some lunch and dealing with you and your query? I would suggest very few of us would tolerate it. The only difference is in one instance, you can see it, in the other, there is the most likely chance someone will hear it. Not looking forward to a call with someone munching an apple and trying to answer my next billing enquiry! I think it is fair to say that the environment and demands on individuals should determine any policies around consumption at your work station. Added to which, consistency is essential. Guidance on “variations” within rules i.e if you need a knife and fork you cant eat it – refer to the fish and chips with fingers incident.

To me, keep it simple and easy to understand so it does not create an issue.

A discussion point I have found very useful in allowing teams to set their own standard in this area is – A question to everyone who has said “yes, eating at your desk is fine” and you are in a call centre. How would you feel if the next time you were at Tesco, a mobile phone shop or booking your summer holidays for example, the person helping you was munching down on some lunch and dealing with you and your query?

I would suggest very few of us would tolerate it.

The only difference is in one instance, you can see it, in the other, there is the most likely chance someone will hear it.

Not looking forward to a call with someone munching an apple and trying to answer my next billing enquiry!

]]> By: Hussain Al-Abdulmohsen http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8369 Hussain Al-Abdulmohsen Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:25:14 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-8369 Yes, I allow my team to have drinks and some snacks on their desks while they are in break. Yes, I allow my team to have drinks and some snacks on their desks while they are in break.

]]> By: Mrs> Lee http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8368 Mrs> Lee Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:23:58 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-8368 I work in a call centre and we are not allowed to eat or drink at our desk. Management also if we missed break at the particular time that was given then we loss our break completely for the morning, this happened many times because we are on the phone with tenants at that time. I work in a call centre and we are not allowed to eat or drink at our desk. Management also if we missed break at the particular time that was given then we loss our break completely for the morning, this happened many times because we are on the phone with tenants at that time.

]]> By: Your opinion: Hot Desking | Call Centre Helper http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8203 Your opinion: Hot Desking | Call Centre Helper Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:12:00 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-8203 [...] It also could cause problems if agents are allowed to eat and drink at their desks. www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm [...] [...] It also could cause problems if agents are allowed to eat and drink at their desks. http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm [...]

]]> By: Franky http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7471 Franky Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:32:17 +0000 http://www.callcentrehelper.com/can-your-agents-eat-and-drink-at-their-desks-1588.htm#comment-7471 Yes, i allow my team to have drinks of all kind on their desks.What i have avoided is the eating thing since we spend much time talking about cleaning and thats not really what we are here for to talk with adults about. Yes, i allow my team to have drinks of all kind on their desks.What i have avoided is the eating thing since we spend much time talking about cleaning and thats not really what we are here for to talk with adults about.

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