to think you should provide lunch if you are a business hosting a meeting from 10am to 2pm?

[Mintyy]

Just that really.

What was actually offered was 1 cup of coffee.

[Mintyy]

Well, they told him to bill for his time so he's going to bill his day rate plus the agreed per diems and see if they argue .

He would have taken food or eaten beforehand had they told him to or if there had been any warning that the meeting would be 4 hours.

[DamnBamboo]

A freelancer is paid a rate wthich should jave been calculated to take into account situations like this. Time spent travelling to and from work, out-of-pocket unforseen expenses... contingency costs so to speak.
If employee's who are on a lower rate than a contractors aren't getting lunch, why should a contractor?

Bring your own and expenses it like everybody else.

[DamnBamboo]

So it's their lack of organisation that seems to be the problem really, not the food.
That's a separate issue then isn't it.
How long was the meeting originally scheduled for then?

[DamnBamboo]

And really, is waiting until 2:15pm for lunch that big of a deal?
Even if he missed it for one day?

[Mintyy]

The "employee's" as you describe them are the ones hosting the meeting and dictating the hours. What makes you think they earn less than dh? How odd.

[ecuse]

I think it's just plain rude.

It happened to me a while ago. When I looked at the calendar appt it did mention, but I didn't really read it; just clicked accept and then checked address on the morning I was due to turn up.

9.30am-3.30pm, on a business park with no shops or cafes for miles. For a meeting in the suburbs of Brum that several had travelled to from London amd Kent. Private sector. We broke for lunch, I was just wondering which way to sandwiches, when the other 15 people in the room bust out their lunchboxes. I was .

This is what happens when you go to The Provinces.

[Mintyy]

No, the problem is that their lack of organisation = no food.

No, its not a BIG deal, infact you could say its that perennial Mumsnet favourite, a third world problem, but its not terribly impressive is all I'm saying.

[Beastofburden]

Public sector here. We do both- BYO is normal but sandwiches and fruit get trotted out for bigwigs .

But maybe they forgot he was external, so didn't know the drill? If I'm asked to a lunchtime meeting and nobody mentions lunch, I take my own automatically and eat it during the discussion if I have to. Ppl don't necessarily spell that out for every meeting, it's the default.

My boss has banned me from going on the 5:2 diet, because she doesn't want me in the office when I'm hungry . Nobody gets between me and my lunch.

[DamnBamboo]

The "employee's" as you describe them are the ones hosting the meeting and dictating the hours. What makes you think they earn less than dh? How odd

By this I mean those who aren't managers etc and who are likely to be earning less. Don't even think that consultants don't make more than an employee.. if you do and he is, then you're doing it all wrong.

And as for the employee/managers - who may be on the same money, well they didn't expect lunch did they, or they'd have organised it.

[DamnBamboo]

Laughing out loud at people moaning about missing... no, delaying, one meal!

One meal that was eaten two hours late (if anybody actually eats lunch dead on 12)! Seriously.

[nappyrat]

Agree with one of the comments above - this is a basic courtesy!! I was always amazed when clients didn't provide anything (not even offered water!!) throughout 2-3hr + meetings. So bloody thoughtless. Sad demise if basic manners IMHO!

[Squeegle]

I agree with your principle.
But on the matter of rates of pay contractors usually earn more don't they?

[hunreeeal]

YANBU. It's basic courtesy to offer lunch at lunchtime, or at least to schedule a lunch break. Anyone attending will have spent considerable time and effort to be there, so it's only polite to provide for them.

[DamnBamboo]

Eating and drinking at increasingly shorter intervals is now entrenched in western behaviour!
It isn't good.
Providing water, I agree with.
Coffee also conducive to good meetings.

[Mintyy]

Ah, ok then DB, that's all clear - I understand perfectly now!

[Mintyy]

I'm not really sure what a contractor is.

You could say dh is more like "talent" [arf].

[DamnBamboo]

Pleased to hear it!
Can I ask, did your DH complain about this or are you?

[nappyrat]

& bringing your own lunch to an external meeting is completely weird so I think it's even more important when it involves someone from outside the biz

[BuggersMuddle]

I think anything scheduled over this hour (shift patterns notwithstanding) should say whether or not lunch is included. I always hated it in my previous work when lunch was included in London tbh because it meant I couldn't claim lunch, but 90% of the time I wouldn't have eaten the over-margerined shite they served.

[DamnBamboo]

Why is it more important?
Is he a client they're trying to impress?
No!
Was it declared a working lunch?
No!
Would he have had the chance to eat two hours later?
Yes!

What's the big deal here?

[Mintyy]

I'm not complaining about it DB, I've just written a small aibu on Mumsnet about it. It would be a bit odd if I were to complain to this company about not providing lunch for dh and his fellow attendees now wouldn't it?

[Beastofburden]

I would definitely provide or organise lunch for an external. That's why I wondered if they forgot he was external.

Disagree that ppl can wait till after 2pm. Maybe if you have the metabolism that can go for a long time between meals, or you start your day late enough that breakfast wasn't that long ago. But a 6 am breakfast isn't unusual, especially if you have to travel to get somewhere. That's a long time.

[hunreeeal]

Eating and drinking at increasingly shorter intervals is now entrenched in western behaviour

Assuming someone had breakfast at 7am, what's wrong with wanting some lunch before 2pm? Seven hours isn't a "short interval".

[DamnBamboo]

You referred to the behaviour you would have like to have seen as basic courtesy, thereby implying they were discourteous.
That's a complaint no?

[starfishmummy]

Another public sector. We only cater if there are people from other organisations there.