A Diabetic Begs You to Make the Holidays More Inclusive at Your Office

Food is an important part of our work culture. We build camaraderie and celebrate special events and accomplishments by getting together with co-workers for a potluck meal and desserts. Usually lots of desserts. We meet customers, vendors and clients at restaurants to network and schmooze, not knowing how the food is prepared in the kitchen. At business conferences, we eat the lunch provided through our registration fee and maybe — if it’s a pricey conference — you can get a vegetarian or kosher meal.

All these things affect the environment in which we work. However, if we are one of the 15 million Americans who have food allergies, the 30 million diabetics in the U.S., or the countless number of people with religious or cultural restrictions on the foods they can eat, it can be hard.

Unfortunately, the typical office environment is not bending over backward to be accommodating to those of us with dietary, medical or religious food challenges.

Let World Diabetes Day remind you to keep office parties and food days inclusive  

November 14 is World Diabetes Day and I think I speak for a lot of diabetics (or anyone with dietary issues) when I say that the weeks between Halloween and New Year’s Day can be challenging at best. And working in an office during that time can be stressful, and even depressing.

The problem is that many of us can’t eat 99% of the holiday food around the office without significant consequences. And some of it, such as foods that cause allergic reactions or celiac disease — such as eggs, tree nuts, berries, or shellfish — can turn fatal. In severe cases, allergic reactions can cause anaphylactic shock, difficulty swallowing or breathing, asthma, and death.

And yet, as a diabetic who deals with blood sugar issues that can also lead to severe consequences, I’ve experienced times when I’ve brought up my concerns about food days and co-workers have condescendingly rolled their eyes at me as they walked away.

Or … my favorite … given me the stink eye and told me to just don’t eat the cake/cookies/candy or whatever. I know others with special dietary needs that have gotten the same treatment. There’s enough stress with managing our food issues every day that colleagues throwing in a bit of food shaming doesn’t help.

So, take it from a 20-year veteran of the Type-2 diabetes struggle, just the attempt to be a smidge more inclusive in holiday food menus and potluck spreads will make the workplace a lot less stressful. Because, honestly, a last-second grab of a grocery store veggie tray to placate special diets gets old after the ten-thousandth time.  

So, what should you do during the holidays — or any other time of year?

First, as an organization, it’s your responsibility to create a safe workplace for every employee. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is an effort to expand anti-discrimination protections to the private sector. Originally, the law didn’t interpret or include food allergies or dietary restrictions as a disability. But, in 2008, that changed.

That year, the government amended the ADA and redefined the law to dramatically expand the definition of “disability” by modifying key terms and specifically adding “eating” and “breathing” to the list of “major life activities.”

The law also incorporated “major bodily functions,” which include, but aren’t limited to: the functions of the immune system, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. It’s easy to see how many food-related issues were covered now.

Therefore, not taking your employees’ or co-workers' dietary needs into consideration when planning events that involve food — like a catered, company-wide Thanksgiving lunch for the staff — could make you non-compliant with the law.

“Am I allowed to ask about it?”

Absolutely. As a manager, team leader, event planner or even an administrative assistant who takes responsibility for ordering food for department or company events, it is essential that you discover every dietary need and make reasonable accommodations for them. But realize this isn’t the same as asking if someone likes a certain food. This is a “Will it do harm?” question. Just because Barb in Accounting prefers pie over cake for holiday desserts doesn't mean you have to try to accommodate her.   

Furthermore, I can only speak for myself for sure, but I think most of us food-challenged souls will agree that simply asking and showing legitimate concern about our food restrictions makes us feel like a part of the team and that can only lead to good things.

“So, what should I bring for our department holiday food day?”

For colleagues and co-workers, once you know the issues people have, take it as a fun challenge to find new recipes that are delicious and that everyone can enjoy. For instance, after I posted a similar blog to this last year for World Diabetes Day, several co-workers took it as a fun challenge and found new recipes to try. Like you, I've had many co-workers who love to cook and bake during the holidays, and making an extra dish makes them happy. They absolutely don't consider it a burden. 

In one case, at an insurance company that I worked at, my long-time friend and co-worker still brought her grandmother’s decadent devil’s food cookies (made from scratch, naturally), which had been a Christmas food day tradition in the Underwriting Department for a decade. However, with me being diabetic and two other vegetarian co-workers, she also brought a delicious vegan Black Bean Pasta Salad that the two vegetarians in the group appreciated — along with everyone else. The fact that people emptied the bowl by mid-afternoon proved it.

And before you ask, yes … vegetarians, diabetics and people who can’t eat gluten can bring our own food so that we’re guaranteed something to eat. And we do. Almost always. And it usually means that out of 20 dishes on the table, we’re only sure we can eat the thing we brought. Woo-hoo!

For most people, the fun of pot lucks is getting a chance to eat someone else’s cooking and try new dishes you've never eaten. And, let's be honest, there's a competition going on with your co-workers to prove who the best cook or baker is. But, the point is that when a friend or co-worker does a little extra and makes something specifically for you, it makes you feel incredible. (Even when it’s not the best-tasting recipe, it’s the thought that counts.)

Oh, and here's a piece of advice ... when setting up the food tables, put a notecard next to the dish, dip or dessert telling people what’s in it. And, if the food challenge for your department is someone’s allergy to nuts, for example, put everything containing nuts on a separate table far enough away that the risk of exposure is minimal. And, use separate plates and utensils for the nut-free food.

Diversity includes more than race and gender

Look at this as an opportunity to learn more about unfamiliar cultures (religious or cultural food requirements), lifestyles, and medical challenges. In my case, I’m very open about my diabetes (and my struggles) and I try to shed light for someone who wants to understand more about it. I work with Millennials whose fathers have been diagnosed with diabetes and they ask me questions that you generally don’t find online.

I hope this post inspires you to look at how you and your company or department handles food days and holiday parties. With just a little bit of effort, you can really make them fun and inclusive experiences for all employees.

Resources:

American Diabetes Association   

Diabetes Risk Test (from the ADA)

Celiac Disease

Thrive Meetings & Events

FARE - Food Allergy Research & Education

Food Allergy 101

It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken (Fuss Free Vegan Recipes)

Religious Dietary Restrictions: A Quick Guide