TOTALLY closed fridge policy?

[Anonymous]

This is a bit strange to me... I just started working for a new family and they have a weird food policy. I'm not allowed to eat anything from their fridge or pantry (no big deal not abnormal totally cool) BUT I'm also not allowed to put my packed lunch in their fridge... it's not like their fridge is particularly crowded or anything. I'm really neurotic about properly refrigerating/heating food (got salmonella once... NEVER again) and I usually bring leftovers from dinner the night before. Just wondering if this seems weird to any of you? Especially considering they both work away from home and I can't leave to go get something. They never mentioned a reason why. I just put my lunchbox in the fridge once and they said "please don't do that again."

[Anonymous]

Can you bring your own mini fridge? That is a bit bizarre as if they are worried about something like bedbugs, they would be better off with you storing the food in the fridge. I find it wearing you cannot eat any food in the house.

[Anonymous]

Um, nope, I would be gone. Nbd if they don’t want you to eat their food. But three inches of space in the fridge is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Does the family keep strict kosher? Or perhaps have a severe food allergy in the family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, nope, I would be gone. Nbd if they don’t want you to eat their food. But three inches of space in the fridge is reasonable.

That's pretty much exactly what my husband said. "Big red flag." I've had such luck with amazing nanny families in the past so I didn't want to quit like that without seeing what's "normal" I guess...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the family keep strict kosher? Or perhaps have a severe food allergy in the family?

No, they're not Jewish and I asked about allergies. I thought the same thing at first.

[Anonymous]

Totally unreasonable. Have you asked what's behind the policy? I would suggest installing your own mini fridge or asking them to provide one.

[Anonymous]

Ask why they are acting this way. If the answer isn’t extreme veganism, extreme allergies, or that they keep a kosher house, quit and don’t give notice. If the answer is reasonable, give a week notice max and quit.

[Anonymous]

I’m on board with everyone else; without a legitimate reason, it’s a red flag. Honestly, I’d i was told that I am never to eat their food under any circumstances, I’d be done. I occasionally use their mayo or something like that.

Are you allowed to touch their food? I assume you feed the child! Do you get any impressions that it is because you are ‘the help’?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m on board with everyone else; without a legitimate reason, it’s a red flag. Honestly, I’d i was told that I am never to eat their food under any circumstances, I’d be done. I occasionally use their mayo or something like that.

Are you allowed to touch their food? I assume you feed the child! Do you get any impressions that it is because you are ‘the help’?

I'm not really sure, honestly. I do a lot of their (the whole family's) meal prep/cooking too (we negotiated this and I'm payed accordingly) so maybe they're just making it clear that I'm not cooking for myself? It's really the fridge thing that floors me, but the food thing is a little weird too. Like, I can't even snack on a PB cracker if I make some for the kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask why they are acting this way. If the answer isn’t extreme veganism, extreme allergies, or that they keep a kosher house, quit and don’t give notice. If the answer is reasonable, give a week notice max and quit.

I can't figure out what the deal is and they don't seem to want to give any detail. MB avoids dairy, but there's milk in the fridge for my charge so that surely isn't it? And I'm a very clean person, my lunchbox is relatively new and not at all dirty. I truly cannot figure this out.

[Anonymous]

Ask them. This is great practice for being proactive about great communication right from the get go, because it looks like they might have a hard time with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, nope, I would be gone. Nbd if they don’t want you to eat their food. But three inches of space in the fridge is reasonable.

That's pretty much exactly what my husband said. "Big red flag." I've had such luck with amazing nanny families in the past so I didn't want to quit like that without seeing what's "normal" I guess...

I cook from scratch. Unless I’m eating whatever I cook for my charges, that means I need refrigeration. So, I would definitely walk if I can’t had 3 inches of space.

I respect that families who keep Kosher, eat Halal or have allergies in the house need to be careful. Hello, I work with their kids, I know this. I wouldn’t bring in anything that caused issues.

[Anonymous]

Why on Earth did you agree to work for these crazies! QUIT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, nope, I would be gone. Nbd if they don’t want you to eat their food. But three inches of space in the fridge is reasonable.

That's pretty much exactly what my husband said. "Big red flag." I've had such luck with amazing nanny families in the past so I didn't want to quit like that without seeing what's "normal" I guess...

Same. This is a HUGE red flag and I would be looking for another job. I would happily tell them why I was leaving too. They need to know their behavior is odd.