Manager insisting I take lunch

Her manager is advising op to take breaks. Unless it's because op shouldn't eat at her desk then it seems manager is doing what they should - encourage breaks.

I often work very long hours. Not because the workloads are too much, or I'm incompetent, I'm in a role, like ops, that never ends, I could work 80 hours a week and still never finish my work.

I know its weird to some, but like I say there are a lot of people out there that are happy with this sort of working environment.

Obvs if op comes along and clarifies it is very shit and she feels overworked then that's different.

You said "I'm very busy and would prefer to work through and get home at a reasonable time", which made it sound like you were leaving earlier than you should.

But her manager is not happy.

Whether she feels she's being exploited or not is irrelevant. She says she works "way above" her hours. So I assume this is all unpaid work?

She should be taking breaks and she should not be working way above her hours. If that's what she needs to do to keep on top of the work then the workload is too heavy or @Shanna8 isn't able for the job.

Unless op does feel she's being exploited I'm not sure demanding op works her hours, nothing more, is helpful.

People do take on roles they know are full on, long hours, flexibility needed etc. If op is happy to do this (I get the feeling she is) and is paid enough to do so, then there's no issue here. A lot of people thrive in that sort of role.

Maybe they would prefer you to be available later in the afternoon. If you work through lunch you go home earlier and are therefore not available.

Stop giving unpaid work over your hours. Nobody will ever appreciate that. The day you leave that job is the day you realise they weren't your friends and you've wasted a chunk of your life and work for no return.

Take your breaks.

These are your RIGHTS and workers fought for them. Stop giving the impression they're unnecessary.

Walk away from your desk, go for a walk, go to a cafe, sit in the canteen with a book / audio book if socialising is too much.

Your boss is right.

That doesn’t sound healthy at all. I can understand not wanting to sit in a crowded canteen but with the weather being so nice why not go outside for a break?

I could not sit in with no break op. I used to temp even a short walk outside the building breaks up the day. Canteens can be clicky.

Yes but OP is an adult and doesn't need a college to parent her.

I didn’t say it wasn’t sensible. I said it wasn’t breaking the law. Big difference.

I am exactly the same as you OP and my manager has raised this with me. I was however going off for a walk or doing 30 mins yoga class and eating at my desk to enable the exercise time.
I think in my case it was seen as not integrating well, not sure (I’m very new).

I think you have to clarify what her expectations are a bit. All the people saying go for a walk - great right now, but the weather is hideous 9 months of the year!

Could you ask if it’s ok to eat at your desk as long as you’re not working?

Im like you though I feel more relaxed cracking on than I do making a social effort !
I am trying to sit with people some days though - accepted it’s part of the work in a way !

Why do you work over and above your hours?

They should hire extra staff if there is that much work. You are not helping by disguising the problem.

Start working your conditioned hours and no more.

Well it's common sense that no decent manager, no decent employer wants their staff glued to a screen for over 9 hours a day - not moving her body and damaging her eyes. It's unhealthy. Her manager doesn't want it to happen.

Duty of care from her pov, but I’m the same, never go to the canteen, work through lunch and break so I can leave earlier. I’d be thoroughly pissed off if my line manager told me to leave my desk. I doubt she could enforce it (mine, no idea if yours can make you). Being away from your desk means you won’t be able to get on with work, that would drive me crazy.

This is the reality of being a PA! We quite often get paid fairly well for doing so but I am on call 24/7 for my boss and his family.

OP please do not question your work ethic / ability to do the job it is a very niche job at the higher level and I only take lunch once a month (when the company insist on group lunch together) work when on annual leave and whilst sick, I am sure these are things you relate to!

You are not breaking the law. The employer has to give the time, you don't have to take it

That's not necessarily true, depends on the organisation!

You need to take lunch, it's a known fact that taking a break away from your desk, even if it's just half an hour, is good for you and your productivity.

She's probably also concerned that you're not out there networking or at least being seen. Our Board PA is the biggest networker on the planet, there's noone that she doesn't know and is a wonderful signpost. As a newbie she was so much help to me.

Technically it might not be her job but she's made it hers . She's a fantastic asset to our organisation.

As a line manager you have a duty of care and a responsibility towards your staff. There's no way I'd want my PA sat at the desk staring at the screen for what - 9 hours a day or something. It's very damaging for your body to be seated for so long and very damaging for your eyes to stare at the screen for so many hours each day. OP is likely to end up with musculoskeletal and eye problems.
Added to this the CEO must be fully aware that OP is also working evenings and weekends. I'd be deeply concerned about this as her manager.
At my office we follow the law of having a break if we work more than 6 hours. We're also told to take a break from the screen every 50 minutes. I don't see this as my employer babying me. It's important health advice! Why on earth wouldn't I want to protect my eyesight and avoid back problems? It's bizarre that anyone would want to put themselves at risk.
She's the CEO, she's your manager, she's telling you to take a break. Just do it.

"You are legally obliged to take a break and your employer is legally obliged to make sure you do"

This isn't correct. Otherwise hundreds of thousands of employees and employees would be acting lawfully every single day.

Which they may well be doing, just not over breaks.

The only legal obligation is on employers to ensure their employees can have breaks.

People eating in the office gives me the ick. It also brings a food smell into the environment that I don't like.

I suspect this might be why she keeps going on about it. It's not professional.

I'm sorry, OP, but you don't have a lot of wriggle room.

You are legally obliged to take a break and your employer is legally obliged to make sure you do.

Eating at your desk shouldn't be a problem. Not taking a break, is. If only because your body needs to stretch and move.

You shouldn't be working over your hours, either. If there is too much work to do in the time available, think how it could be redistributed.

There's a perfectly easy solution. Take a book and read that while you eat. Ideally, go and have a quick walk for 10 minutes or so. Job done.

Funny joke 😂