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?

[nextusername]

Technically YANBU. But teachers do so much unpaid overtime (far more than half an hour a day) that it's just something that's expected in schools.

[OpenMe]

I'm not buying that nextusername, all but the most junior teachers get paid,at least double what I do and get paid for their holidays

[witsender]

Really? You must be very poorly paid then, as most business managers in schools I am involved with get paid well into £20-£30k. (Someone pedantic will also point out that teachers aren't technically paid for holidays, their pay is just split over 12 months.)

[DinosaursRoar]

Sadly, this is just expected in some industries, and teaching is one of them. I would say a compromise would be say you'll do this once or twice a week (and let the Head know you've decided this).

If you aren't going to be able to accept that you don't get your full break the way you want it every day, then this might be the wrong working enviornment for you. i wouldn't expect to be able to get out every day for my full break in a small business, which effectively is what you are working in.

[witsender]

Agreed.

[OpenMe]

My fte is c. £23k (small school) but I work pt as I'm 2hrs short of ft weekly hours and don't get paid for holidays (teachers do!) My actual salary is £17k, there is only one teacher in school earning less than £34k

Which is all irrelevant except for the fact that you can't compare teaching and support staff

[user7755]

It may not be right but it is the reality of the working environment.

Soosie made a good suggestion on page 2, did you see it?

If the HT has mentioned it more than once, I imagine that there is a perceived division between you and the rest of the team and the HT is trying to address this.

[3littlefrogs]

I am a nurse. What is a lunchbreak?

[Clarella]

Ahh this is a tricky one - YANBU.

However, I've worked in one school where the ht was very keen all staff try to make the staff room at lunch time. He valued the way it held everyone together.

Now, I now know it was a very un bitchy school, possibly as we all crammed in at lunch time possibly because we all were united in our hatred the head for being so authoritarian.

Fast forward to now with a ridiculous work load in a different enormous school where very few make it to the staff room and it's a very fragmented, cliquey workforce, where it's possible to not see people for weeks. So I understand why the head is suggesting it - it fostered cohesiveness in a small school.

At the same time there's no way I could be directed to go to the staff room most days now.

I think just find a balance, pop along occasionally, get to know people and do what you want with your break.

[Youarentkiddingme]

Staff rooms can be awful - in any job they can be awful. It's not really a 'break' having forced time with people. Can you adjust your break so you take it 20 minutes later? 10 minutes with staff there and 20 minutes alone.

Then if staff ask you stuff tell them you'll be back in the office at X time and come and see you then or go and leave a note on your desk which means they'll leave the staff room and nagging you immediately!

[witsender]

My previous post disappeared, but it said that as lunchtimes are the only time that you will realistically see most teaching staff it is logical that to get to know them, you would need to see them at that time. I would compromise and go a couple of times a week. Of course you could dig your heels in and refuse on principle, but you say the place is a nice place to be so I don't see why you would want to.

[GruntledOne]

There's only one break in the mornings, most of the staff aren't in the staff room then and I don't get a morning break.

Nevertheless I would suggest you go to morning breaks at least once a week - you can reasonably count it as part of your work given that the Head has asked you to do it. And I also agree that, while you are on probation, you would be daft not to go along with what the Head wants.

[letseatgrandma]

don't get paid for holidays (teachers do!)

I thought that teachers got paid during holidays (12 equal monthly payments) but not for their holidays. Teachers work 195 days a year and are paid an annual salary for those days.

misses the point of the thread

With regards to the lunchtime issue, I would compromise as you are still on probation, I think. If as you say the atmosphere between the staff is by far the best of any school I've ever been in then presumably the head wants you to fit into that as well. If you are an introvert that leaves the school to sit alone during her breaks, she might feel that you are not the right person for that school.

[TheSnowFairy]

Is there a whiteboard in the staffroom?

[OpenMe]

A teacher gets the full time advertised salary provided they work ft during termtime. Support staff only get the ft salary if they work 52 weeks pa (less statutory paid holidays)

[PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange]

I think forcing someone to have a break in a place they don't want to be will lead to tension in the staff room.

I'm surprised that teachers really get a lunch break as often I know they will work through in order to have more time at home.

[user7755]

piper - doesn't sound like they do, sounds like the lunch break is used for communication across the team.

[LeaLeander]

YANBU. Tell the head that you use your break for wellness activities such as exercise and stress-management (reading, errand-running) to make sure you are in top form to do your job.

That said, I do think for job security reasons you might want to spend one lunch break a week in the staff room. It's not fair but sometimes we have to endure short-term pain for long-term gain. Perhaps every Wednesday or every Friday or whatever suits you.

When people approach you with work-related items just say "I'm sorry I don't have note-taking equipment with me; will you please drop me an e-mail about that at your convenience?" If they want info say "I'll consult my notes (or whatever) when I'm not on break and let you know. " They'll get the hint. And of course if it's a short answer to a question such as "when will the new supply of paper be in?" it wouldn't hurt to say "A week from Monday" etc.

[KacieB]

Well, it's up to you whether you do or don't, but sometimes what you're legally entitled to isn't the right or socially acceptable move.

When I was younger I would have stuck to my guns more. Now I see the value of playing the game a bit and if that means forcing yourself to socialise a bit occasionally at lunchtime for a job you otherwise love, then that's not the worse compromise in the world.

And TBH if you have a rigidly inflexible attitude of "not in my job description" "allotted hours" or "I'm entitled to X every day no matter what" without any room for give or take, you're only making a rod for your own back when it comes time to needing concessions of your own from fellow employees.

[Want2bSupermum]

I echo the others who say the HT is telling you if they have mentioned it twice. Reach a compromise by going 3 times a week and then go for a walk the other two days. If there is a shop you can walk to it gives you the perfect excuse of having to run an errand during your lunch break.

Given your role including HR as well as H&S items, I think it is important that you make an effort to make yourself seem approachable to all staff. If everyone is in the staffroom at lunchtime this would be the ideal time for you to meet everyone in a non-business context, which makes those difficult payroll and personnel requests all the easier for people to approach you with issues the HT needs to be aware of. I do see where the HT is coming from on this.

[DinosaursRoar]

What you are paid in relation to the teachers shouldnt have a baring on this - either you are paid well enough for the role you are being asked to do or you are not. If you are not and you resent it, then start looking for another job. If you are being paid adequately for what your role is, it really shouldn't matter what your colleagues (in very different roles) are earning.

It seems that being available over lunch breaks at least for some days is part of this job. You might be entitled legally to do what you want in your unpaid break, but as the Head has made a comment about it more than once, it seems that this is the reality of this particular job. It is unlikely that you will be able to completely change the culture of this 'business' by yourself.

This is the job you have, suck it up and do lunch in the staff room a couple of times a week (and view it as being seen as approachable should make your job easier), or start looking for a different job as this one doesn't suit you and you don't suit it. Once everyone's got to know you a bit better, it might be easier to reduce how often you are in the staff room, but to start with, fit in with the company norm.

[FlatOnTheHill]

YANBU
And if this is bought up again just say you need a break. You are within your rights to do as you like.

[Damselindestress]

I think that your boss is BU to expect this as your break should be just that, a break from the pressures of the workplace and it is also unpaid so they can't really dictate what you do with it. OTOH, since it has been suggested twice and you are on a probationary period, it might be a good idea to put in an appearance to show that you are a team player. It's not really fair but it is important to make a good impression during the probationary period. Maybe pop in to the staff room for a cuppa a few times a week in the last 10 minutes of your break instead of for the whole break. If people ask you about work related things just politely point out that you are on your break and will deal with it when you get back to your desk.

[Obs2016]

I think if it's been mentioned twice, you need to take the hint. A weekly or fortnightly visit should be manageable. Take your sandwiches with you and then if anyone asks you something it'll be ages before you've finished your mouthful, before you can answer. Result,

[Jux]

Teachers don't get paid for holidays though, do they? They get a salary same as everyone, which is calculated on fewer hours work pa. and then it's divided by 12 and that's what they get. The salary is calculated on hours worked just like yours is. If they got paid for the holidays they'd earn a heck of a lot more.