To decide myslef how to spend my lunch break

[OpenMe]

I'm a school business manager in a small school which means I do the finance (everything from orders to the budget), personnel, payroll, health and safety, premises, most of the admin, as well as manning the front desk and the telephones. It's a wonderfully varied role but it does mean that people always want something from me and my working life is full of interruptions and chaos.

I started in September and am contracted for 7.5 hours a day plus a 30 min unpaid lunchbreak.

I've had two probationary reviews which have gone very well but each time the HT has "suggested" that it would be nice if I spent my break in the staffroom, so the staff can get to know me. I don't think I'm particularly unsociable, but if I go in the staff room everyone takes the opportunity to tell me what they need from me, what they're waiting for, what they forgot to tell me about that is now urgent etc etc.

It's also really noisy. It's a lovely school and the staff are all very friendly, but the noise of them chatting at lunchtime is horrendous

Anyway, my preferred way to spend my 30 mins is reading, running out to the shops or (best) just going for a walk. Just 20 minutes of quiet away from the chaos.

I understand where the head's coming from but I also like (need?) my break. AIBU to ignore her or only go in there when it's raining occasionally?

[Lightbulbon]

How would you feel if you lost the job?

If it's important to you you'll have to suck up the culture.

[DisappointedOne]

Teachers get paid for a certain number of hours teaching per year. Nothing else. Their pay is split across 12 months evenly but they don't get holiday pay.

[user7755]

Its a moot point whether they do or don't get paid for holidays. They still get the same amount per annum, whether this includes paid holidays or not.

NQT 22,244 minimum. If they don't get paid for 13 weeks of that, they are getting paid 22,244 for 39 weeks work. About 570 per week. If they do get paid for holidays they get about 427 per week. They get the same amount every year, regardless of how it is dressed up. If they are not paid for holidays their pay is over 150 per week more than an equivalent professional public sector graduate role. I don't understand why people come back with we don't get paid for holidays as a demonstration of how tough their job is, when it's really bloody tough anyway!

totally not the point of the thread. Where is OP anyway?

[M48294Y]

Why don't teachers get paid holidays?

[Soooosie]

It's 13 weeks. But the teachers I know spend 1/3 of that time working.

[rollonthesummer]

Teachers in England don't get 16 plus weeks off a year; where did you pluck that figure from?!

[Iggi999]

16 weeks? I need to move to England!

[nextusername]

If you get 16 plus weeks off a year you get ample r&r time.

... which teachers aren't paid for, and which only goes some way to making up for all the extra unpaid hours they work in the evenings, weekends, and yes, during the so-called holidays.

[Siolence]

So if it is only a "job" why should she give up her limited time in order to fit in with those who are working in their vocation?

Presumably you had a free period to be updating at 9am.

If you get 16 plus weeks off a year you get ample r&r time. Perhaps consider that when expecting those who get considerably less time off to work in the same way.

[JessieMcJessie]

Nice bit of snobbery there Gwen.

[Iggi999]

A business manager is a career. Many teachers view their job as a "job". There's a pay difference of course, but I don't think you can decide who views their role as part of a career pathway and who doesn't.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"They don't see the difference..."

Um, the difference is that one is a career and a vocation and the other is a job.

[Siolence]

Teachers versus supporting staff. They don't see the difference between them knocking in the hours in school terms and all school holidays off and supporting staff being expected to umm knock in the hours during school terms and have 6 weeks off.

Unfortunately you will have to come up with a way to do it sometimes and have your alone time at a different point in the day.

[JessieMcJessie]

Are you sure you don't get paid for your lunch break? It's just that you expressed your salary as an annual amount, not an hourly rate, so I'm not sure how it's clear that lunch is unpaid? Does your contract say that expressly?

For what it's worth, I can see both sides on this and wonder if you've explained your misgivings to the HT during the appraisals? I agree with the "twice a week" compromise just to play the game and win yourself some goodwill since you like the job.

[starfishmummy]

As others have said as you are on probation then it seems sensible to vo to the staffroom, you might even start to like it.

But as you only have thirty minutes and need a break then coming up with a solution to people needing to talk about work to you during that time, would be a good idea and might earn you brownie points for initiative.

[Drew64]

I very rarely stay on site at lunch, more often than not I spend it in the car listening to the radio.
I need to get away from everyone.

I don't like the people I work with anyway but YANBU

[tiggerkid]

Not unreasonable at all. You only get 30 mins and frankly I think it's unreasonable for people to ask pester you about the stuff they need during lunch break, which is already short as it is. If you feel there is some sort of expectation for you to hang out with other members of staff during lunch, perhaps, try to do it once or twice a month if you can just to make your life easier with others but you are definitely not being unreasonable for wanting to spend your lunchtime as you see fit.

[OnlyLovers]

I think venus's suggestion is sensible and would happily take it to the HT.

[venusinscorpio]

I suggest they send her an email in the first instance as I think it's unreasonable to expect her to have to remember or take notes when not at her desk, and also that she takes her lunch at a different time to them so if they want to come to the office to ask her at that time then they can do. I think that's more than fair.

[nextusername]

When do you suggest the teachers talk to the OP then venus? They will be teaching in lesson times.

[venusinscorpio]

I hope the OP realises from the responses here that she'd be insane to spend anything but the bare minimum of time in the staff room while the teachers are in there, as they will self-importantly feel entitled to constantly disturb her break with their personal work issues. I'd avoid it like the plague.

[SevenOfNineTrue]

OP, why not simply tell the HT that. That when you are there it is not a 'break' as you have to work. Tell her you understand what she is trying to do but until no one bother you in the room, you will spend your break as you please.

[Pangurban1]

It most certainly up to you how you spend your unpaid time. However, it might be politic to do it a couple of times.

When someone mentions something they need off you, tell them to come to your desk after lunch or when you are there in case you forget. Onus on them for appropriate place and time.

[nextusername]

The teachers will be asking one another at least as many work-related questions as they ask the OP. "Is football on tomorrow?" "Has X told you that Y will be needing Z this afternoon?" "Do you know who was last using the screen?" "Have you made the list of names I asked for?" "How long will the meeting last?"