Before your next office day, find out where you can eat, when you can use the space, and what you need to bring. A short facilities note can hold the answers you would otherwise have to ask for again at lunchtime.
Start with one real location and one ordinary workday. This checklist is about access and practical arrangements. It does not tell you which foods can be stored, transported, or prepared there. Once you know the facilities, choose your lunch arrangements separately.
Start with the right location
Write the building, floor, and day at the top of your note. If you split your time between sites, make a separate note for each. Ask the office contact, reception team, or person responsible for the space where to find current information.
Use specific questions. “Is there a kitchen?” leaves several details open. Try “Which lunch area may our team use, and can I get into it during my shift?” If you are visiting another organization’s premises, ask whether visitors can use the same facilities as staff.
For background, the UK Health and Safety Executive’s workplace-facilities guidance covers washing facilities, drinking water, and places to rest and eat. Its guidance is jurisdiction-specific; this worksheet makes no judgment about your employer’s legal duties. HSE workplace facilities.
Make a facilities note
Copy this table and fill only the rows that matter to your day. Keep “unknown” as an answer until someone confirms it.
| What to check | Question to ask | Your answer or next step |
|---|---|---|
| Eating area | Where may I eat, and is seating available? | ______ |
| Access | Do I need a badge, key, booking, or escort? | ______ |
| Opening hours | Is the space open during my lunch break? | ______ |
| Shared equipment | What equipment is available for staff to use? | ______ |
| Refrigerator | Is one available, and what are the labeling and clear-out rules? | ______ |
| Water and washing | Where are the drinking-water and handwashing facilities? | ______ |
| Utensils and dishes | Are these provided, or should I bring my own? | ______ |
| Washing up | Where should used dishes go, and what cleanup is expected? | ______ |
| Buying lunch | Is there an on-site outlet, and what are its hours and payment options? | ______ |
| Questions or faults | Who should I contact if something is unavailable? | ______ |
These are prompts, not a facilities standard or an inspection. A checked refrigerator row records availability and local rules; it does not verify the condition of the appliance or the suitability of any food.
Check the arrangements that affect your break
Ask when the space is busiest and whether there is a queue for shared equipment. If your break is fixed, include the walk from your work area to the lunch space in your own planning. Check whether returning to your work area requires a badge or another sign-in.
For a rotating shift, ask about that shift explicitly. A lunch counter’s daytime schedule is not an answer about an evening visit. Put the relevant opening hours in your note, along with when and how you confirmed them.
If a route, doorway, seating arrangement, or location may be difficult for you to use, ask for practical details before relying on it. You can request the information you need without adding personal background to a shared workplace note.
Decide what belongs in your bag
Use confirmed answers to make a small equipment list. Depending on the arrangements, yours might include a fork, spoon, mug, napkin, or container you already use. Check storage space and workplace rules before buying or leaving anything at the office.
Keep this list separate from the lunch itself. It is a reminder about belongings, not a guide to packing food. Mark items you plan to take home so they do not disappear into a desk drawer after the first visit.
Ask once and keep the useful answer
A concise message could read:
“I’m working at the Riverside office on Tuesday. Which eating area can I use around 12:30, and is it open to visiting staff? Please could you point me to the rules for shared equipment, dishes, and cleanup?”
Add one unresolved question from your table rather than sending the entire checklist to someone who only manages part of the building. Save a link to the relevant workplace page, or note who answered and the date.
Update the note after your visit
Record anything that changed the plan: a different entrance, a closed outlet, a missing utensil, or an equipment queue. Separate what you saw on that visit from what the workplace contact has confirmed as the usual arrangement.
Finish with one practical next step, such as “bring a fork” or “ask reception about access on late shifts.” Leave unanswered questions visible. Before a later visit, recheck any detail your plan depends on.