Do I have to take my lunch break at work?

[lunchbreak]

At work we have been really busy. As a result, I've struggled taking my lunch hour until late afternoon. I have not mentioned this to my manager, however as her office is right near me she notices I'm at my desk and haven't left for lunch yet. She brought it up in a conversation with me and seemed to be implying that it's my fault and I'm refusing to go for lunch.

The way I see it is I prefer to take my lunch in the afternoon as the workload slows down a bit, I also prefer eating lunch later on in the day. My colleagues are the same but as my manager's office is right near me so she seems to have focussed in on me. I do take my lunch break every single day and I wait until there's a good time to go, sometimes that's 1pm but more often it's around 4pm.

As a result, my manager is now using my late lunches as evidence of how understaffed we are. She is also putting forward that we have defined lunch times rather than the flexible approach we currently have.

I feel like I'm in the wrong but didn't realise. I prefer a late lunch anyway as I have a 2 hour commute at the end of the day so often don't have dinner until 8-9pm.

Why did you not say to her that you prefer to take it later? She sounds quite nice from what you've said, she thinks you're unable to get away for your lunch because of the workload and is trying to do something about it.

This is largely an employment law/H&S issue - if you work for six hours you must have a 20 minute break. I think it's good your manager has noticed as she's making sure you take a break. If she wants to say you must take your lunch break between certain times then that's okay too.

When you say the workload slows down a bit, are you in a reactive role where you have more customers/service users/enquiries, etc. at certain times?

On the fade of what you’ve written you’d kiss sounds like a caring one to me.

She sounds concerned about you and the impact the amount of work is having on you And the team.

I wouldn’t see it as being in the wrong. Not many people want to their lunch at 4pm (what time do you finish work?), she probably worries you’re starving by then and also that concentration levels drop.

I’d just bring it up again and ask that if fixed times are agreed then you’d Like a late one and give your reasons why.

Just say you do get your break and you prefer it at 4pm due to the commute.
Or tell her you’re on a diet that means you don’t eat until then.
Or some other reason if that’s easier.
It sounds like concern for you because she wouldn’t be happy waiting until that time, but if you are then just say.

Bloody phone. *on the face of it, your boss sounds like a caring one

I get your point, I work in a business support role where colleagues often come to me during their own lunch hours to sort stuff, so it makes sense for me to take mine once they’re all back at work! You are required to take a break after 6 hours though as a PP notes. What time do you start work? I suppose your manager could also be concerned about people saying ‘oh I’ll just not take my lunch and leave an hour early’ which I’ve seen people try and do before.

A manager wants and needs to know where the team is - defined lunch breaks make this easier to manage. If you prefer to eat later then tell her and perhaps explain you are working on x or want to finish y before taking a break.

I’m an office manager and I prefer staff to take their lunch break at lunch time. Towards the end of the day last minute things can happen that need dealing with straight away and I prefer to have all staff back from their breaks. When I’ve left it to staff to sort out their own breaks some can take advantage and I think it’s better to have some structure and give a guidance on when breaks should be taken.

You say you’re too busy to take breaks at lunch time, is that because of deadlines or do you just not want to leave something unfinished? Could you start it straight after lunch for example? As an office manager I’m sorry I’m on her side just because I wouldn’t want staff leaving at 4 o clock for a lunch break when they were finishing at 5 or 6 o clock anyway. I’d expect them to have a snack in the afternoon if they were having a late tea.

I think she sounds like a decent, caring manager that’s trying to help with your workload.

In my job (large office environment / currently wfh) lunchtime is quiet across the business as everyone takes lunch. The afternoon is busier. Maybe it's that.

Thank you all for your replies so far. I feel better now as I was worried that my manager was frustrated at me/my behaviour.

I always ensure I'm back before the last hour of the day which is where things need to be sorted out before the end of the day. I would never use it as an excuse to leave early. I finish work at 7pm so usually have at least 2 hours left once I'm back from lunch.

I also take a short break in the morning so I do have the legally-required break.

Our workload is consistently high all day from the moment we walk in until the moment we leave. I will finish a task and make a mental note to for for lunch but there'll already be another task waiting, the hours slip by quickly when I'm that busy.

If your employer has core hours, it may be the case that you have to take your break between certain hourd

Hi OP. If you finish at 7, is this contractual or just how it works out? If your working hours are 11am - 7pm rather than 9am - 5pm you’re very much not being unreasonable to want to lunch at the midway point of the day. If it’s just that you work long hours so you’re in the office 9 - 7 then I guess that’s less relevant!

@Dollywilde

Hi OP. If you finish at 7, is this contractual or just how it works out? If your working hours are 11am - 7pm rather than 9am - 5pm you’re very much not being unreasonable to want to lunch at the midway point of the day. If it’s just that you work long hours so you’re in the office 9 - 7 then I guess that’s less relevant!

Hi, my contractual hours are 8am-7pm (a longgg day!)