It is Mandatory : Providing Tea & Coffee, Manufacturing Unit, As per Act ?

Respected All,

I have a query related to Tea & Coffee. We are a manufacturing company with around 70 to 85 employees. We provide Tea & Coffee for 3 shifts, 2 times per shift. However, only one or two employees are deliberately complaining about the quality of the Tea & Coffee.

In this case, my query is: Is it mandatory for the company to provide Tea & Coffee to the employees? If it is mandatory, could you please attach a copy of the related policy (if possible or available)? If it is not mandatory, please share the same information (if possible or available).

Thank you.

Maharashtra Factory Rules 1963: Foodstuffs in Canteens

The relevant Maharashtra Factory Rules 1963 is reproduced below:

85. Foodstuffs to be served and prices to be charged - (1) The Chief Inspector may, by an order in writing, direct the manager to provide in the canteen any item of foodstuff if he is satisfied that such item is in general demand. Such order shall specify the size of each portion to be served, the number of portions which shall be available, and the frequency of serving the particular item per week. Such order shall also specify the time limit within which the order shall be complied with.

So, please check if any such order is issued. If so, then comply with them. If there are no such orders, then use the Canteen Management Committee to nip them in the bud itself. You may have to deal with such offensive ones in a calculated manner. There are 2/3 specimens in any work situation, and their criticism is more to draw attention and show their leadership skills. There are multiple ways to deal with such employees, and you will have to study them a bit to tackle them effectively.

Providing tea or coffee in the workplace is a common courtesy. There is no law yet that compels you to provide this. If any employee complains about the quality of the tea or coffee, please look into it unless it is malicious. Just because a complaint is received, don't think you are obliging them because it is not mandatory. Fix the problem and not the solution.

Regards, Vinayak Nagarkar
HR and Employee Relations Consultant