The Office Fridge

Someone's lunch went missing from the office fridge.

Word quickly spread as a mini-investigation by the owner took place, the vibe of a workplace crime drama unfolding. Nobody knew anything. Suspicion hung in the air.

After 30 minutes of searching, the owner of the missing lunch informed, rather sheepishly, that they had left it in the car.

A quick snapshot of the office fridge: a shared space nobody officially manages, but that's important to many. Some people barely notice it. For others it's an essential part of the office — a ritual stop on the way into work and on way to lunch or simple making the first morning coffee.

Last night's leftovers go into a container with the best intentions to be eaten that day—but quietly become a science experiment. A month later, someone opens the container and the whole floor knows about it.

There can be a space issue ("whose is THIS, there's no room') and the unresolved debate over who's actually responsible for keeping the fridge clean. Staff insist it's a cleaner's job. Cleaners insist people should be responsible, other than for a monthly deep clean.

There's no induction module on fridge etiquette or the unspoken shelf hierarchy. You just... figure it out.

That's true of a hundred small things in a new job, and the fridge is a tiny example.

A good welcome isn't about spelling out every unwritten rule — nobody could. It's about making someone comfortable enough to ask questions instead of guessing.

That's the idea behind WelcomeChapter. Before someone starts, colleagues can add a message, photo, voice note or short video. Nothing formal — just useful information for the first days in a new job – which could include details about lunch options.

One link to hear from new colleagues before the first day, with a warm welcome and helpful advice.

So, which fridge person are you?

A) The Regular — has a favourite shelf

B) The Avoider — cupboard coffee, never opens it

C) The Tidy One — wipes the spills

D) The Milk Checker — sniffs before pouring