Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's pretty normal not to have a lunch break?

155 replies

IdaClair · 27/02/2014 15:01

I work for myself at the moment, and most days the first chance I have to eat is dinner time. Sometimes I have breakfast, sometimes I don't. Friends and family have said to me that I should have a 'lunch break ' and seem appalled by the idea that I don't have one, saying I should 'make sure' I do.

I have what is essentially a shop and there is maybe 5 minutes a day where I am not serving customers directly, and there is often a queue. Breaking for lunch is not an option! To me it seems perfectly normal not to have a lunch break, I have only ever had one in an office job. Every other job I have had in customer facing stuff like event management, catering, customer service, caring roles, even waitstaff and barwork -there wasn't a lunch break. There were a few that did a strict 15 mins every 4 hours type of system, but nothing longer than that and most things were on a 'grab two minutes if you can where there is time ' basis - and there was never normally any time! I would often do a 12 hour shift doing something like a wedding and no-one would stop the proceedings so the staff could have a break, and in some remote country hotel you've never been to before with a kitchen busy with 200 guests, unless you brought a pack up there isn't exactly any food available even if you wanted it.

I am sure there are many professions which are so busy and unpredictable you don't get a 'lunch hour'.

AIBU to think that there is no such thing as a lunch break in many roles and it's not exactly a shocking thing or some kind of deprivation?

OP posts:
SinisterBuggyMonth · 28/02/2014 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KirjavaTheCat · 28/02/2014 14:55

DP is entitled to a 45 minute, paid lunch break and a 15 minute unpaid one.

Some days, because of disgraceful piss-poor management (I know, I used to work there too and it was exactly the same), he has to eat at his desk and no chance of the 15 minutes. Of course managers 'frown' upon it, but literally the work would not get done if employees didn't do this, and they'd be disciplined. It's shit.

And if you have the opportunity to eat but don't, OP, friends and family have good reason to be concerned about you. You should be thankful you have people looking out for you imo.

TeacupDrama · 28/02/2014 23:01

by law for the normal 8 hour working day you must have a minimum 20 minute uninterrupted break after 6 hours at the most, this does not have to be paid but it must be given and it must be uninterrupted ie not 2 x 10 mins

some employers act illegally some employees take the mickey, but no food or break is not productive or healthy, people need fluids and food and the loo, they do not need fluid every 10 minutes etc

I agree that clock watchers are not the best people you will never do even 5 minutes more, but then neither are the martyrs you are first in last out no lunch either the most productive it is presentism not productivity

in Germany they insist on breaks but when working they work not chatter/ surf internet etc

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/02/2014 23:09

I have worked in all sorts of places but the best for productivity have been those where I had an hour for lunch. Time to let off steam, run a couple of errands or make non-work phone calls, eat and drink properly so you're not away from your desk looking for snacks when you're supposed to be working.

I now work in a school - people rarely get their full lunch break because they are dealing with pupil issues that can't be deal with during lesson time. Suppose that can't be helped but it doesn't help with stress levels and therefore patience with pupils and even colleagues.

RuddyDuck · 28/02/2014 23:11

We have a 30 minute unpaid break as a minimum where I work (local authority). In reality, because there is nowhere else to go, we all eat at our desks and so there is a tendency to carry on working whilst eating a sandwich.

My manager is quite good about checking if I'm still in my lunch break - if my phone goes she'll ask if I'm on my break and then answer it for me.

I think people should be encouraged to take a proper lunch break, I feel much better if I've eaten something.

trixymalixy · 28/02/2014 23:18

YABU. I always take an hour. I either walk for the hour or I run for half an hour with the rest being taken up with changing and showering. I've worked in my industry for 14 years and never not taken an hour for lunch although I will work through it if really necessary, but that would be unusual .

My boss actually has an hour blocked out in his calendar for lunch. I'm an actuary, so fairly senior/ high earning.

EBearhug · 28/02/2014 23:42

in Germany they insist on breaks but when working they work not chatter/ surf internet etc

Not everywhere in Germany, going by some of my German colleagues.

EBearhug · 28/02/2014 23:42

(I mean, they do chat and surf during work time - and get their breaks.)

LittleBrassPig · 28/02/2014 23:49

No definitely not normal. I'm public sector and fairly senior. Our manager, and the most senior person we have on site, ensures everyone gets a lunch break and she, wherever possible goes out for a brisk ten minute walk after her lunch, usually homemade soup, just to recharge her batteries. She's great and very inspirational as a manager but recognises that people need to eat and rest to function effectively.

Irrespective of the fact that is illegal not to give staff working a certain number of hours a lunch break it just makes no sense. People need to eat, rest and re-group to deliver optimum performance for the rest of the day. If one of my staff was skipping lunch every day and working through I would be worried whether they were coping with their workload. Yes we have challenging workloads and work long hours but missing lunch should not happen. It's a false economy when it comes to productivity.

I thought the 'lunch is for wimps' bollocks had died out in the 1990s. Different clearly if you're self employed but something you need to manage.

Ludways · 28/02/2014 23:59

I can have a lunch break if I want, no one bats an eyelid either way. I rarely do though, I usually get a soup from the canteen and eat at my desk. I'm late every morning by up to 10 mins and no one has ever said anything about that either, lol

phonebox · 01/03/2014 00:02

I'm entitled to a full hour, and judging from some of my colleagues regular lengthy tea breaks throughout the day too, but find I am most efficient taking about 25 mins for lunch (enough time to chat with colleagues and catch-up on goings-on: this is vital for my work) which is a good break from my desk.

I'm v lucky though - I get away from my desk and run around the company frequently throughout the day anyway. However, that 25 mins or so is the only time I get to talk to my colleagues about stuff that isn't work-related, which improves our relationship and therefore improves all of our teamwork. When we work, most of us work in a very focused and efficient way!

legoplayingmumsunite · 01/03/2014 00:04

No, it's not normal and it's not healthy. I don't have an issue with people not taking the full hour if they are busy (although my work assumes you take the full hour and won't let people have less in their contract) but I have insisted line reports stop working and go and eat. Maybe in some jobs the mistakes you make if you are tired or overworked don't matter but I work in an industry where attention to detail is essential and that's just not possible if you don't get a break during the day.

CynicalandSmug · 01/03/2014 00:07

I don't have a break, my shifts are long though so if I can I will eat as I work. Not hygienic and can't be good for the digestion! We are very very busy so as much water as I can get and the odd bit of food keeps me energised and focused. Lack of breaks is the least of my worries!

happygirl87 · 01/03/2014 00:16

I work in the City, and am a junior contractor trying to prove myself. Yesterday I didn't have the chance to go to the loo between 7am and 5pm. I have a heavy period. It was awful. It's not right, but its the way it is.

LittleBrassPig · 01/03/2014 00:32

Yes that is horrible happy but what would you have done if you had needed the loo so desparately at 11am that you had to choose between peeing on your chair and clothes or rushing to the toilet? What would be the most embarrassing or biggest admission of failure? Your colleagues seeing your pee soaked chair and clothes or taking 2 minutes out to go to the loo? Are we seriously in 2014 cos this is fucking unbelievable??

Don't senior contractors or permanent employees, ya know mostly men, need a pee at any time within a ten hour time frame?

LumpySofa · 01/03/2014 01:02

Try and do it if you can, when you feel you need it. Normally when SE they are a perk that you won't bother with a lot of the time, but you should eventually move towards taking the idea of breaks seriously (especially as you start making more money), as they are well understood to have positive effects on health and productivity.

AnnieLobeseder · 01/03/2014 01:18

Wow. Where I work, we actually plan all our experiments around our tea and lunch breaks! We can't eat/drink in the lab, so we all go to the canteen together. Sometimes we just chat about random stuff, sometimes we discuss work issues and network with people from other labs. It's valuable time where we bond as a group. Our entire institute works this way and I think we all benefit from it - we're a tight-knit group, issues are discussed and resolved and we're all fiercely loyal to our employer - even people who leave usually come back within a year or two.

Employers/employees who don't see the value in a lunch break, especially one taken together, are being very short-sighted IMO.

YankeeMum8 · 01/03/2014 02:53

YANBU but even with your business I think it's pretty much free choice since I assume you use a restroom during the day. It takes 2 seconds to pop a piece of sandwich in your mouth on your way back from the restroom.

So if it's just free choice, I wouldn't voice it to anyone, just like they wouldn't tell you they had lunch that day. If it's no big deal to you, then it isn't a big deal and doesn't need to be mentioned.

YarnyStasher · 01/03/2014 03:02

DH works in a physical job. He has an hour unpaid in the middle of the day. He wouldn't work through it - he's not getting paid!

diddlediddledumpling · 01/03/2014 07:58

In the past i have regularly skipped lunch due to having too much to do, and often breakfast too, so like you, op, the first time I would eat would be when I get home.
However I've recently had problems with my stomach and I think it is in part due to my irregular eating. I was also finding that I was starting to get migraines for the first time in my life. My body seemed to cope fine with the poor treatment in my 20s and 30s, but now it's complaining!

I try to eat at least a yoghurt for breakfast now and some if those breakfast biscuits for lunch. Seems to be helping.

I think this kind if thing is prob why your family are surprised and advising you to eat more regularly.

PocketFluff · 01/03/2014 08:18

and I can assure you it is nothing like the salary of a teacher - just about 50p an hour over minimum wage

Just to reply to this, as I was working this out last night (after another day of not having time to have a wee). As a teacher I'm earning 6.90 an hour. Yes, on my payslip my rate is a lot more, but then I'm only paid for the hours I'm teaching. To actually be able to teach, plan and prepare lessons, mark and assess and write policies, organise training for staff, attend meetings etc I need to work more than double the hours I'm 'paid' for.

Sorry to change topic, can you tell it's a bit of a sore point this morning?!!

sleepdodger · 01/03/2014 08:26

I maybe get lunch twice week

agedknees · 01/03/2014 08:47

This thread makes me angry. Would we expect our cars to run without fuel? No. So why would you expect a human body to run without food?

I work in the nhs, am often the only qualified in my area so cannot go away and take my lunch. I make sure all the chase get their lunch, then sit in the staff room and gobble up my lunch. I am often disturbed, it's not ideal, but at least I get to eat.

Surely being able to eat is a basic human right?

agedknees · 01/03/2014 08:48

Chase - hca's

Pontouf · 01/03/2014 08:51

I can only speak for myself obviously, but I do ten hour shifts and have a half hour unpaid lunch break. I take every single second of it in order to continue to function as a useful member of staff. Not having a break day in day out is not sustainable long term. Very unhealthy I'd have thought.