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Original poster

To think people should have breakfast BEFORE work?

433 replies

candybeek · 27/10/2016 07:07

If you work a normal daily shift like 9-5 office hours, then I feel it's really odd people come in to work and immediately start pouring milk on their cornflakes or dashing to the canteen for a greasy fry up.
I'm in the minority at my work place that have breakfast at home before work.
I understand it if you work shifts etc but 9-5??

I find it really odd, what's next - people using the kitchen to cook their tea before they leave for work?

It's even worse as they bring their smelly breakfasts back to their desk so I have to inhale it all.

Am I on my own in this thought?

OP posts:
KittyAlPick · 27/10/2016 08:26

Breakfast at your desk wouldn't bother me - as long as it's relatively clean and dry like toast and fruit. Sloppy cereal and a fry up needing knives and forks not so much. But get those plates away immediately. Leaving dirty stuff around where paperwork can dip in the remains of your egg and beans - ugh!

Re the timing, a lot of people are paid to get a job done and a more productive couple of hours post breakfast could be better than plodding on for your allotted 9-5.

m0therofdragons · 27/10/2016 08:26

If you sat in my office and I discovered you were looking down on me for eating breakfast that would be weird in my office. (I take porridge pots you add water to do not using tea money milk Grin). I work so hard and barely stop to even go to the toilet some days, yet you begrudge me breakfast.

m0therofdragons · 27/10/2016 08:28

Just realised, we are actively encouraged to use the canteen as the commercial director is in my office Grin. Clearly a different dynamic to your workplace op.

GoofyTheHero · 27/10/2016 08:30

Sounds very similar to my workplace *Queenbean'. I really can't get worked up about people taking 10 mins to eat some breakfast (or spend the afternoon in the pub Wink) when I know people also regularly work until midnight.

PeachBellini123 · 27/10/2016 08:33

My line manager eats breakfast at his desk but is often in the office until late at night so I can't blame him for spending 5 mins eating brekkie.

I eat at home as I can't face my commute without food (due to pregnancy I think!) and work less hours than hin.

BusStopBetty · 27/10/2016 08:34

Of course people can eat and work at the same time. Pissing off to the canteen for 30 mins would be a no, but eating a sandwich at your desk doesn't reduce productivity.

SailingThroughTime · 27/10/2016 08:34

I've just flicked through your posts rather than reading the replies OP.
Seriously, for your own good, chill a bit.

Original poster
candybeek · 27/10/2016 08:34

As I keep saying, not one person works a second after 5 at my place.

Thanks for all your opinions tho, I knew I was in the minority.

Oh and by the way, I don't begrudge anyone breakfast! I love breakfast at home.

OP posts:
Original poster
candybeek · 27/10/2016 08:36

Totally agree sailing maybe I do need to chill and start doing something similar if the canteen was half decent

OP posts:
Basicbrown · 27/10/2016 08:36

This thread has made me see I need a new job!

I think you are right. The retentive controlling approach of your employer has started to infiltrate into your pleasant, reasonable head.

I suspect that there is a 'divide and conquer' approach where they deliberately set staff against each other via petty indiscretions rather than building a strong team. The other option I guess would be to fight the culture and try and make it better.......

AnnaT45 · 27/10/2016 08:36

We all have breakfast at work. I think it depends on your industry / culture. We all commute a fair way, never take a full lunch break, never leave at 5.30 and often have evening events to attend to so we make up the time! We also bill our time so use timesheets so our time is ours to manage really.

I can kind of see where you're coming from, but just join in. Go get yourself a coffee!

I get wound up by the 40 min love life conversations and social media use when people say they're really busy!

NoahVale · 27/10/2016 08:36

But pity the poor shop/factory workers, and other works who dont sit in an office.
how on earth do they manage?

And I still think its sloppy to eat at your desk.

KellyBoo800 · 27/10/2016 08:37

I would hate to work in an environment when your time was so micro-managed that you can't even eat if you're hungry without judging you.

I get up at 5.30, commute into London and am at my desk by 7.30 every morning - so yes I eat breakfast at my desk. My boss (a very senior person in government) then gets in at 8 and eats at her desk too. The other two guys get in at 8.30 and 10.30 and both still eat at their desk. It really doesn't matter and each one of us has been considered a "top performer' at appraisal time. I also work through my lunch break 90% of the time and eat at my desk. So can hardly be considered a 'slacker' just because I don't eat before I get to work.

About twice a week I vanish for half an hour or so to have coffee with a lady who works in the office across from me. I share an office with her manager and he encourages this, and specifically tells us to treat it as 'personal' time rather than discussing work stresses. No doubt the people that she manages probably think she's taking the piss too by socialising during work times but so what? They don't know the circumstances behind it and there is very good reason for it.

If you are working in an office (unless it's telesales, which you get commission on sales anyway so you wouldn't want to spend extra time away from your desk!) and you are an ADULT you should be allowed to manage your own time and multi-task.

gamerwidow · 27/10/2016 08:37

Doesn't this depend on your job though as to whether or not it's ok? I am more than capable of reading emails, reviewing documents and planning my work for the day while eating breakfast at my desk. I could even answer the odd phone call and still manage. However this is because I get to plan my own time so save these types of tasks for first thing. If I worked in a call centre or in a customer facing role then this might be less acceptable if the tasks allocated for the morning didn't accommodate this. At my work we don't clock watch but we do expect all the work to be done on time. This means if you finish the days work early you can go home early but if there's a lot on you stay late. Seems more sensible and doesn't leave people feeling like they're treated like children.

Alconleigh · 27/10/2016 08:38

I'm with Queenbean and Goofy. The culture is get the work done, not sit there being present for x hours. Some weeks that's a 14 hour day, every day, to get a bid out. Some days that's a slightly boozy 2 hour lunch because we're a bit quiet. Work from home if you need to. Some days knock it on the head at 4 as we are over it. It's a grown up working culture. I cannot imagine going back to a working culture with someone making sour lemon faces about time keeping and when you eat your meals......

Bitofacow · 27/10/2016 08:39

Slurp, crunch, clink, suck, chew, chomp, slurrrrrrp, nom nom, crunch, clink,clink, sluuuurrrp ahhhh.

You need to be hurt.

elodie2000 · 27/10/2016 08:39

Oh, so many defensive office workers on this thread!

candybeek, thanks to your thread I have now learnt that eating smelly food at desks or disappearing for breakfast after logging in:

  • Offends no one in real life. (Not even you OP)
  • Smell is not an issue, anyone who says it is, is wrong.
  • It is none of your/my/anyone's business if co-workers trot off to eat instead of starting work (when they don't work flexi hours).
-It is also incredibly thoughtless to object because some people have to take medication with food and the only time they can do this is when their working day has commenced.
Basicbrown · 27/10/2016 08:40

But pity the poor shop/factory workers, and other works who dont sit in an office.
how on earth do they manage?

And how do people who work outside manage when it is cold? What about people who have to work long hours? What about people with stressful jobs? How about people with 2 hour commutes? How about vets? Why is any of this relevant?

pregnantat50 · 27/10/2016 08:40

I pop to Costa for latte and toast on route to work every morning. I find its too early when I get up at 6 but when I get to Costa at 7 I am hungry, then I toddle in to work for 8 and am happy :)

NoahVale · 27/10/2016 08:40

Grin elodie

NoelHeadbands · 27/10/2016 08:42

Breakfast is the best meal in our canteen Grin we tend to go as a team, but if I'm snowed under or have a Skype meeting or something, I'll grab a bite and eat at my desk.

It's commonplace, no one gives a shit.

Like PP have said, it's about doing the job and doing it well. It's not about being present at a desk between certain hours of the day. I have a great employer though

NoahVale · 27/10/2016 08:42

if you must eat breakfast at work, get there early to do so.
how would you feel visitng your GP for a 9 o'clock appointment to see a bowl of cereal on their desk Grin You wouldnt expect it.

elodie2000 · 27/10/2016 08:42

Today 08:39 Bitofacow Slurp, crunch, clink, suck, chew, chomp, slurrrrrrp, nom nom, crunch, clink,clink, sluuuurrrp ahhhh.You need to be hurt.
Are you at 'work' cow ?

TaterTots · 27/10/2016 08:43

But pity the poor shop/factory workers, and other works who dont sit in an office.
how on earth do they manage?

Not wishing to be harsh, but the phrase 'tough titty' comes to mind. Every job has its own issues. I don't see why someone working in an office shouldn't eat at their desk because a factory worker doesn't have one.

Original poster
candybeek · 27/10/2016 08:43

Well said elodie!

OP posts:
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