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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel annoyed by colleague?

36 replies

RattyRoland · 27/01/2013 08:55

I work full time. I leave work at 430 most days as this was approved by my manager as I only take 30mins for lunch, so can go home earlier(though I often take a very short lunch) or not at all and still have to leave at 430, no earlier.

One of my colleagues works part time and finishes at 2pm every day (works 845-2pm). However, he has no lunchbreak as he agreed this with boss/HR as an employee working under 6 hours per day is allowed to do this apparently. All fine there. But what I find annoying is he still goes to the cafe downstairs and buys lunch and eats it at his desk?!

I know this may seem trivial, but essentially he is doing exactly the same as me and many others for lunch, but whereas I lose half an hours pay he doesn't. Surely if he finishes at 2 and has chosen to take no break then this is unfair, he should either eat lunch after he's finished his shift or take an official break?

Maybe I'm being petty here and should forget it, but it annoys me when I'm at work everyday...

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 27/01/2013 09:02

Annoying yes, your business? No.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 27/01/2013 09:04

Petty.

I dont have a 'lunch break' (not that I could alter my pay) on any shift as I always eat at my desk (alone in my office so no annoying others with it).

I still have to eat. However the.time I spend eating I am also answering calls, emails, doing paperwork. I dont get a break but I need sustanance.

Shakirasma · 27/01/2013 09:05

YABU

As long as this person is working while they eat what's the problem. It would be very unfair to make somebody work those hours without allowing them something to eat, not to mention unhealthy for them.

You may eat and work too but that is your choice. You could take a proper break away from the office if you wanted to, so the circumstances are not compatible IMO.

nefertarii · 27/01/2013 09:05

You are being extremely petty. I. A 6 hours he is by paw required a break. Even if its a walk to the canteen.

You choose to not take your half an hour. Take it. You can't remove your lunch break from your working day as it is too long.

You are not in the same position and he should have to not eat because you decide to eat at your desk.

MrsMoosickle · 27/01/2013 09:06

Might be annoying, but essentially its irrelevant to you.

That said,you can get out on your break, your colleague can't. I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone a snack at their desk.

HollyBerryBush · 27/01/2013 09:06

Legally you are entitled to a break after 5 hours - but what your collegue has negotiated and also the renumeration package really isn't your business. Are you whiter than white and never have a coffee or slice of birthday cake at your desk?

"Condensed" hours are becoming increasingly the norm now, as people want their down time.

Adamit · 27/01/2013 09:06

listen, everyone who works outside the home sees a colleague do this kind of thing ... yes its annoying yes its not fair but its the way of the world. i see it myself in my work place but what i have learned is to just put MY head down do MY work it will be spotted or perhaps is being monitored as we speak. this very situation used to happen to one woman in work was gone everyday at 2 but by one o clock would till up finish work make herself tea and eat her sambos. she was pulled up over it about 3 weeks later.

you can of course draw it to a manager's attention if you wish but you have to work with these people so its up to you.

nefertarii · 27/01/2013 09:07

By law not paw. Grin

JeezyOrangePips · 27/01/2013 09:07

Really?

I think YABU. I can eat and work. He's probably away from his desk about the same length of time as a trip to the toilet.

prozacbear · 27/01/2013 09:08

YABU.

It is not up to your employers to compensate you for break that you choose NOT to take. So if you have your half hour, take it, it's that simple.

I wouldn't expect anyone working for me not to eat for that length of time - he isn't taking the piss IMO. You need to be less of a martyr and take the break you are owed.

Sorry to be harsh, but we get a lot of this where I work, "Oh I never take my lunch break so why this or that bla bla". Take your lunch break, this is how we structure your employment!

nefertarii · 27/01/2013 09:08

adamit what exactly is this person doing wrong?

Megatron · 27/01/2013 09:09

YABU. Not your business.

HollyBerryBush · 27/01/2013 09:10

Ask to condense your hours, ie foregoe (sp) your lunch hour so you can leave earlier too.

Adamit · 27/01/2013 09:10

he is obviously taking a lunch break though it wasnt agreed to in his terms of his workhours.

Original poster
RattyRoland · 27/01/2013 09:11

Ok thanks for putting this in perspective, I accept that iabu and it will help me not feel annoyed at work next week.

OP posts:
chicaguapa · 27/01/2013 09:12

Look upon it that if you wanted to take half an hour, to have a chat with a colleague over lunch or make a long phone call to the bank, you can do so. Your part time colleague doesn't have that flexibility.

IDontDoIroning · 27/01/2013 09:13

Does he work through while eating lunch or just sit at his desk to eat but not work.
If he is actually working then y may b a little u.
However if he isn't then yanbu.

Original poster
RattyRoland · 27/01/2013 09:13

Nefer - he is having a lunchbreak even though he had agreed to no break and so is being paid. The rest of us don't get paid for our breaks. But iabu.

OP posts:
Shakey1500 · 27/01/2013 09:14

I'm bucking the trend and saying YANBU to feel annoyed. I would too.

However, there's not a lot to be done is there? Can't you do the same?

Shakey1500 · 27/01/2013 09:14

Oops misread sorry! You do have a lunch break. Perhaps, have an extra tip to the canteen yourself for a post lunch crème egg Grin

IDontDoIroning · 27/01/2013 09:15

Actually thinking about it why can't he wait til 2to eat. I regularly did a work pattern like that when pt and dc were younger. I used to have a cuppa and biscuit around 11 and that would see me through. So I never ate lunch in work.

AuntieMaggie · 27/01/2013 09:18

Why are you eating at your desk? You get the option of eating away from your desk so why don't you?

He is allowed a break as he works over 5 hours so he gets his lunch then and eats at his desk. That is not a lunch break.

Cheeryble · 27/01/2013 09:21

Presumably the employer accepts that he can have the odd break for tea etc? So if in practice he uses it at lunchtime and carries on working whilst eating, from the employer's point of view it's more or less the same thing. I bet he takes less time off than people who have smoking breaks.

Shakey1500 · 27/01/2013 09:22

Can you renegotiate with your company? As in, say "I'll forego a lunch break so that I can be paid the extra, like Brian does? And being as you don't have a problem with him eating at his desk, I assume that's ok for me" Grin

prozacbear · 27/01/2013 09:27

This just such a non-issue - there are work problems, and this isn't one.

As long as this man is working as he eats (he could be googling bollocks all day, who knows), what's the problem? People make cups of tea, gossip in the canteen, go out for fag breaks - all technically 'breaks' but not really.