I have many Indian peers. I am not Indian. I have observed many Indian individuals use their hands and fingers during meal times. However this poses a problem for me when it's communal dishes. It seems that they don't have an issue touching food that others would consume. For instance, if there is a bowl of nuts shared by a group. I personally would take the bowl and pour some into a paper towel for the amount I would consume. But these peers of mine would dip their fingers into the nuts like a claw toy arcade machine and pick out ones they choose. Another case was when at a dinner restaurant, a dish came with uneven amounts, so I asked the waiter for knife and fork. As I started the cutting process, an Indian peer, (while already sees me cutting) takes it upon himself to grab a piece unprotected with his hands and rip it with bare fingers. Then he left both to be shared. It bothered me a lot but I'm afraid that if I call or pointed this out, I would come off insensitive. What's the right approach here?
Yeah you're right to feel disgusted by it but you don't have much to gain by bringing it up (they could get offended and start rumors you are racist)
He could gain his health by avoiding a nasty infectious disease, I would consider that a ‘uge gain. 🍆
A week of shitting yourself vs. possible career suicide from malicious rumors Indians are like the most easily offendable people out there, they love finding excuses to get offended
Call it out, they need to understand that they are not in their cholera ridden farm anymore. 🍆
It’s not an Indian thing, I have colleagues do it all the time. They’re all close friends from way before Expedia and drinking from each other’s cups seems to be a thing too. Irks me every time. So I told people I am on immunosuppressants. Way easier than explaining that I don’t want anyone’s mouth herpes.
Yep, the people that I've known to do this have not been Indian, either. I once saw the second in command at my former company run his bare finger through the public cream cheese and stick it in his mouth on bagel Friday. Many of those same people also openly would brag about not washing their hands after using the bathroom, too. 🤢
I would say mention it one on one to the person and you may be surprised at how well it would be taken. I am indian and I can relate to your concern based on an experience I had in a restaurant in India. It was a new part of india and new cuisine and the waiter observing my cluelessness promptly mixed things in my plate to show me the right way to eat the food. I was horrified but the poor waiter was just being helpful. But in the workplace I would say open conversations build trust.
You need to understand that as a non-Indian at salesforce, you’re the minority. As one, you need to adjust to your majority’s hygiene. And teaching them now what they’ve been learning for 20+ years on the streets of Bombay or Delhi will not help or change them.
lol really? Is it that difficult to learn not to touch food that will be consumed by others? I bet many people go to the rest room without washing their hands. Yuck!
Doesn't even matter. When you go to another country you must respect their laws, customs, and mores.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. You just need to communicate. No one will be offended.
That’s gross, and it doesn’t matter if they’re indian or not, you have the request sanitary practice on communal matters. I would say politely, but seriously mention that you request people to stop placing their hands on food, as it limits your enjoyment. Be brief, be polite, get to the point, and move on. And if you see someone doing it, call them out fairly on it. Or better yet, get some cups or something for the kitchen, and place them next to the nut jar (for example) and place a note saying “use me”
It’s gross in India also to put hands in common food. You can directly tell them to use a spoon or something. It’s totally fine! That’s what I do and if still someone don’t understand I simply don’t eat from that common food.
If it's someone on your team and you guys have a mutual respectful working relationship built on trust, then bring it up to them, they may not even realize what they're doing is wrong. If they respect you, they will appreciate the heads up, then might be horrified at who they've offended.
You are right, they are wrong. And there is no need to mention race/nationality.
I was told eating with hands is not unusual in India
Eating is not unusual. But touching the food when shared by other people who are not family is not usual. They probably thought it was ok. Let them know without offending and it should be fine. Or be over cautious in front of them and they’ll understand imo.