AITA for eating at my desk even though my coworker is fasting?
In a bustling office, a turkey sandwich becomes the center of a lunchtime showdown. A worker’s routine of eating at her desk collides with her coworker’s new intermittent fasting regimen, leading to a company-enforced ban on desk meals after a doctor’s note gets involved.
This Reddit story stirs up a workplace storm over personal habits and shared spaces. Was she wrong to push back on the food-free zone? Let’s dive into this office drama.
‘AITA for eating at my desk even though my coworker is fasting?’
This office clash highlights the tricky balance of personal choices in shared spaces. The fasting coworker’s request for a food-free zone, backed by a doctor’s note, seems like an overreach. Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist specializing in eating behaviors, notes, “Fasting is a personal choice, and while it can be challenging, expecting others to alter their routines significantly isn’t always reasonable.” The note’s legitimacy is questionable—intermittent fasting is rarely a medical necessity.
Workplace accommodations often spark debate, with 65% of employees reporting tension over personal habit conflicts (SHRM, 2024). The OP’s preference for her desk—due to the break room’s discomfort—deserves consideration. The company’s blanket ban feels heavy-handed; a better solution might be reassigning the fasting coworker’s seat. The OP could push back by citing her own needs, like a medical note for ergonomic seating.
Take a look at the comments from fellow users:
Reddit’s commenters stormed in like a lunch rush, serving up spicy takes on this fasting feud. Here’s what they had to say.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. Unless there is a company policy that states no one can eat at their desks, she can't suddenly expect that from her peers because SHE is changing her diet. I'd push back. The company has to reasonably accomadate her if there was a real medical issue here, but that doesn't mean forcing a select group of employees to go by rules that arent a company policy.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/210907c-04.png)
![[Reddit User] − Oh come on NTA she’s just being dramatic. Don’t know why any doctor would ever suggest any type of fasting for any reason.. it’s not healthy. You should start bringing food and holding food out for her to clearly see, but not eating it, because technically you’re only not allowed to eat it right? That would be some petty revenge lol](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/210907c-13.png)
These Reddit opinions are as heated as a break room microwave, but do they get to the core? Is the OP standing her ground or ignoring a coworker’s struggle?
When does accommodating one person’s needs cross into unfairness for others? The OP’s desk lunch battle raises questions about workplace boundaries. Have you dealt with a coworker’s request that cramped your style? What would you do in this office pickle? Share below!
