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?

[milkbeast]

YANBU. Do you have to take your 30 minute lunch break at a specific time OP?

[LBOCS2]

I was about to ask that. Could you not 'be available' to teaching staff in the office when they're not teaching, then go for your own, unpaid lunchbreak once they're back in class? You could even find 'errands' to run which take you into the staff room when they're there - still on paid time.

[TiggyD]

Try it on a friday and keep a note of any work stuff people attack you with. Might be handy if you tell the boss "I spent 5 minute dealing with this, 5 with that...etc". Or it might be fine.

[milkbeast]

Posted too soon...meant to add that although I'm definitely a people person and I'm described by friends/colleagues as bubbly/chatty/outgoing, when I was working I always spent my 30 minute unpaid lunch break alone, either out for a walk, reading, ordering groceries online/doing other life admin. I had a demanding job where I was 'on show' a lot of the time, so I felt that 30 minutes of quiet time for me was essential. This may sound unsociable but TBH I never felt like I had a break when sitting with colleagues.

[LalaLyra]

I think if your boss has mentioned it twice and you are still in your probationary period you really need to think about it before deciding not too. If it's a school where there is no divide between the staff then HT has probably worked hard on that and will be wary of it starting because splits in staff can be really toxic in schools.

Did you tell her why you don't go in?

[OpenMe]

I'd be more than happy to spend the school lunchbreak in the office and available to staff and take my break later (when I can have the staffroom to myself!) but ht specifically wants me in there with the rest of the staff.

[OpenMe]

That's it Milkbeast. Even if I can manage things so they learn not to actually give me work at lunch, they're still noisy talking about work

[BackforGood]

That doesn't work in schools though Ratherberiding, as, at the end of the lunchbreak, everyone is back in the classrooms - you know, teaching. The only times they can sort things that need to be sorted in the office or with office staff, is - during the lunchbreak. It's just the way it works in schools - can be a shock to the system if you've been used to an office where you can just lock the office and wander off for 1/2 an hour, but it just goes with the territory.

[Forester1]

Would it be an option to pop into the staff room before you go for a walk and ask if anyone would like to join you? If anyone does it will be easier to say that you don't want to talk about work - but also shows you are making an effort.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I think it would be sensible to have one or two "sociable" lunches a week, and let the HT know how you have decided to address her suggestion.

[OddBoots]

I can see where you are coming from but if you otherwise love the job I think it is worth doing once or twice a week. Maybe bring a notebook with you and if they make a request ask them to write it in there for you to deal with when you get chance.

[RatherBeRiding]

How long before you are out of your probationary period? If you really think that not agreeing to this ridiculous imposition on your unpaid free time will affect your being kept on permanently, then you could spend half of a couple of lunch breaks per week in the staff room (pointedly refusing to be "on duty") and then once into a permanent contract gradually spending less and less time in there, but maybe going in once in a while so that the HT can't claim that you never show your face.

Alternatively ask the HT how she suggests you reconcile your legitimate need for a proper break with her wish for you to socialise at luncthtime.

[IonaNE]

OP, take the hint and write it off as something you have to do to keep this job (if you want to keep the job). Schools are notorious for this kind of thing and you could be easily out because they decide that "your face did not fit". (Ex teacher here.)

[beardsrock]

YANBU.

You can do whatever the fuck you like in your UNPAID lunch break.

[echt]

At my school, admin staff take their lunch break before or after the teachers' lunch break. No-one would dream of asking them anything about work at this time. Do it by email, or see them at another time.

Indeed, serious enquiries about work to other teachers are always prefaced by an apology if one is clearly sitting in a the social space.

I think the HT is being fucking cheeky, but you might need to suck it up until your probationary period is over.

[beardsrock]

Or, you could just do it once a week to keep the peace I guess.

[margaritasbythesea]

YANBU - I don't work in a school but in a similar role where lots of people want things from me. There are times when there are morning and afternoon meetings which I have to be in and so 30 minutes for lunch, during which I am constantly bombarded with requests. It winds me right up but it is only once a month. If it was every day I would leave. Seriously.

[CalleighDoodle]

Just do it every other friday. If someone asks you something,ask them to email you.

[RatherBeRiding]

That doesn't work in schools though Ratherberiding, as, at the end of the lunchbreak, everyone is back in the classrooms - you know, teaching.

So pay people to work when they are required to. And then allow the office staff to have an unpaid break when the teaching staff are all back teaching.

I don't accept this "goes with the territory". Why tell staff they won't get paid for 30 minutes because its their free time and then turn round and say that, actually, it isn't free time at all and you still have to work but we don't pay you? I had enough of that crappy attitude when I worked in the public sector. Thankfully I now work somewhere where, if you choose to work through lunch, you put it on your timesheet and damn well get paid for it.

[witsender]

Compromise. Go a few times a week, it is important to get to know staff,especially in a small school.

[Antisoc]

Yanbu.


(ohh my auto correct tried to correct YANBU to YABU )

[Auntpetunia2015]

I do the same job and when I first started I made an effort to go in every Friday for my lunch. It did mean the staff got to know me, but I agree they can't stop giving me stuff telling me stuff demanding stuff etc, I used to just say..... leave a note on my desk with what you want/need I'm having my lunch. And then carry on talking or eating as appropriate.

So YANBU with regard to the heads request but might be worth showing your face

[scarlets]

Give it a go until February half term, and if it pans out as you anticipate it will, tell the HT that it isn't working out, and why.

[Soooosie]

Have you explained the issue to the head. You could always tell him that you could count the break as working and leave early instead.

The alternative is telling anyone who approaches you during lunchtime to email things to you as you don't have your note pad, so will struggle to remember

[KacieB]

Can you say to the HT that you see what she means, have a nice half hour lunch break alone and then go in the break room for 15 minutes treating it as work? Log it in the calendar as "staff catchup time" or something?

It might help productivity and more - friendships can help the workplace feel so much happier for everyone.