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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I shouldn't be disturbed on my lunch break??

85 replies

RoastOx · 07/02/2019 13:54

I am a supervisor in an office and to be honest, I'm getting really fucked off with people coming into my room during my lunch and saying "I know you're on lunch but can I ask you this question that is not in the slightest bit urgent"

I don't disturb anyone else's lunch break.

We dont have a staff room so I am limited to where I can go. If I did go out to lunch, what would they do? Track me down to ask me questions??

I am going to have to start leaving the office every fucking lunch time aren't I.

Sorry, it's just that I have been disturned 4 times in an hour whilst in the middle of eating a sandwich.

OP posts:
Original poster
RoastOx · 07/02/2019 13:55

Worth adding that there are other supervisors available on phone

OP posts:
MsSquiz · 07/02/2019 13:56

Just say "unless it's urgent, please come back in half an hour"

Quite simple

Ironfloor269 · 07/02/2019 13:58

Can you lock your room door?

Sukochicha · 07/02/2019 14:01

People will always ask you if you’re there.

Megan2018 · 07/02/2019 14:02

I have a different job but I lock my office door and put my phone on Do not disturb (we have this facility on our work landlines).
I also have blinds on the window which I put down and i ignore any knocks!
Sometimes I don;t mind being interrupted and half work though my lunch whilst on here too but other times I really want some peace.

Aquamarine1029 · 07/02/2019 14:03

Put a Do Not Disturb sign on your door.

Cornettoninja · 07/02/2019 14:13

Is there a meeting room or reception area you could use? Ideally if you don’t want to be disturbed you need to not be at your desk. Or get yourself a do not disturb sign.

CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 07/02/2019 14:20

I had a colleague keep doing this the other day, he could see I was eating but kept trying to engage me in a conversation about a work matter. In the end I just looked him in the eye and said “Is this more important than my sandwich right now?” He took the point, laughed at himself and left me in peace while I ate. Full disclosure: I am 6 months pregnant so not entirely rational when hungry!

BIgBagofJelly · 07/02/2019 14:21

Surely you tell them to come back at 2pm when your lunch break will be over and you'll help them then?

Babygrey7 · 07/02/2019 14:21

Yes, you have to go out for lunch...

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 07/02/2019 14:26

I totally understand your frustration. I worked in retail as a supervisor, and I very rarely got I got my full, unpaid lunch break.

I honestly did find the only way to guarantee any peace was to leave for my lunch (although that was only possible if there was another member of management in store. Otherwise I was t allowed to leave at all)

EmeraldShamrock · 07/02/2019 14:28

Get a do not disturb sign for your door. Do not force yourself to go out every day, have a quick word and let them know it is not on.

cjt110 · 07/02/2019 14:28

"I'll get back to you after my lunch break" Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

And close your office door.

If people persist, put a sign on your door "Do not disturb between X and X time."

TBH, I don't care if people think I'm at a twat... My lunch is an unpaid break. MY break.

PerfectPeony · 07/02/2019 14:29

I totally get how fraustrating this is!

I work in a client based role and would often be asked to take calls/ see clients on my lunchbreak. I ended up having a chat to colleagues and just explaining that I value my break. I think in a lot of jobs you are expected to go above and beyond. Work through lunch, stay late, not me though.. I don’t get paid enough! I do a good job while I’m on duty and that’s enough.

Be direct and tell them. Smile

cstaff · 07/02/2019 14:30

An old boss of mine always took her lunch after 2pm so would think nothing of coming over to my desk while I was having lunch so I started to say to her if she asked me a work question "I am not here, I am a figment of your imagination".... Or another thing I would say would be "what would you do if I wasn't here - you would just have to wait until 2pm".

She got the hint and used to laugh but thought I was joking (which I kinda was) and would carry on with whatever she wanted. It did get my point across.

Most of the time working in that office I did used to go out to lunch with a friend as we were never left alone.

ChrisPrattsFace · 07/02/2019 14:31

I get this when I’m in the staff room, so do my colleagues.
I’m rude enough to say no I’m on my dinner, unfortunately my colleagues are too kind and often miss there lunch.
Tell them to come back when you’re finished!

EhlanaOfElenia · 07/02/2019 14:31

Just say "unless it's urgent, please come back in half an hour"

^ This! On repeat.

LuYu · 07/02/2019 14:36

This gave me the rage when I worked in an office. I had the same job title as a guy who was fortunate enough to live across the road; every lunchtime, he'd skip home and have a wonderfully relaxing hour while I sat eating a sandwich and fielding a dozen enquiries, half of which were for him. And I couldn't say 'come back later' without seeming really militant, because they were usually small things asked by different people.

Hey LuYu, where's the unopened box of copy paper?
Oh, LuYu, do you know what time Bob will be back?
Where did Bob leave that invoice?
LuYu, can we just quickly set a date for...

I'M ON MY LUNCH GO AWAY!

In contrast, the best place I ever worked for undisturbed lunches was the council. My god - the pure shock and outrage if you asked anyone a work-based question while they were eating their jacket potato, or having elevensies, or the afternoon snack trolley had come around. The entire building could be burning down, but don't you dare mention it until I've finished my yoghurt.

So YANBU, and go and work at a very slow-paced council department.

adaline · 07/02/2019 14:37

Go out, or lock the door.

I'm a manager in a shop and if I'm the only key holder in that day, then I have to stay on the premises for my lunch. I'll happily hate people but I will then add that time onto the end of my break. I'm happy to help people (especially as there isn't always anyone else to ask) but I'm not going to take it off my break time either!

Mia184 · 07/02/2019 14:47

Is there a meeting room or reception area you could use?

Be careful if you‘re eating something smelly like a tuna sandwich or a doner. Having a meeting in a room where people can smell what has been eaten in there a short while ago will probably lead to a rather short meeting.

Nat6999 · 07/02/2019 14:50

Put a sign up saying "At lunch do not disturb" & refuse to deal with anyone during your break, I used to put on my headphones & listen to music when I had my lunch at my desk.

Toooldtocareanymore · 07/02/2019 14:51

I find i'm disturbed a lot less when I put music on, they approach door hear noise and think i'm on a call or something I see them wander off,

Original poster
RoastOx · 07/02/2019 14:51

No meeting rooms in this building, although we do have one in our other building down the road. I think this could be an option but my favourite thing to do is tuck into my lunch whilst reading MN!

Another thing that pisses me off is a girl who sits right outside my office, she cant walk past without engaging. Its always "Oooh what have you got nice to eat" when it's quite obviously a ham baguette.

I was really hangry today which is why I posted. TBH I am still feeling the rage.
I have started putting my phone on DND but I feel shit telling people to go away when I'm on my lunch. They should know!!!!! FFS i'm angry again

OP posts:
newnameforthis7 · 07/02/2019 15:02

YANBU.

Grace212 · 07/02/2019 15:02

YANBU

I've only once worked in a place where there was somewhere to go to eat lunch.

it's so annoying because I always want to pack lunch to save money so can't really go out, and if you go for a walk a lot of the time the weather is shit anyway. I have known a few people just put their hand up in a sort of talk to the hand gesture and say "not now".