Health Department Lives By Its Own Rules?

Over the last few years, New York City has started to force its citizens to become more health conscious. Whether it was a ban on Trans Fat, or other absurd regulations, New Yorkers are progressively losing their freedom along with their food choices. However, according to a new mandate, Health Department workers may have to follow their own rules:

The city’s Health Department is going on a diet. No deep-fried foods served at agency lunches. No cookies and cakes at the same time. And no beverages over 25 calories per ounce: Those are all part of the new health mandate issued to department employees in a little bright-colored brochure ahead of their move from Manhattan to Queens, according to a published report.

The brochure requires that tap water be on the menu when food or drinks are served and suggests bagels or muffins be cut into halves or quarters to reduce the number of calories employees intake, reports the Daily News. Also, thinly sliced, whole-grain bread is a suggested offering at work events.

Aside from the dietary rules, employees are required to adopt good personal and office hygiene habits, namely by avoiding wearing smelly products, eavesdropping and putting up signs co-workers may deem offensive, according to the new set of guidelines for “Life in the Cubicle Village” obtained by the News.

Initially, these mandates would seem absurd for any workplace. However, it’ll be interesting to see if the employees will finally understand what authoritarian control feels like, or if this will further encourage them to place more dietary restrictions on other citizens. Only time will tell.