Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
newnameforthis7 · 07/02/2019 15:04

Used to happen to me all the time in my last job. The company was in the sticks on a small industrial estate, and there was NOWHERE to go at lunchtime.

I would sit outside on the steps with my sandwich and can of coke, and within 10 to 15 minutes - almost every time - I would get someone coming to ask me something, or asking me to speak to someone on the phone. Angry

I had times when I would go for my 45 minute lunch at 1pm (due back 1.45pm,) and an interview I had 1.50pm, would turn up at 1.25pm. I had a number of occasions where my manager would come out to me and say 'your 1.50pm interview is here....' (they were 25 minutes early!) I would say 'yeah but it's another 25 minutes yet and I am still on lunch break.' He would get really fucking arsey with me, and said 'they are here here now, you'll see them now.' Angry

I was much younger then, (mid 20's,) and went a bit red, and got up and saw them (25 minutes early!) The middle aged me would tell the manager to fuck off.

YANBU @RoastOx

And I also get fucked off with people just HAVING to say something when I am eating. 'You'll get fat eating that!' and 'giz a bite of that!' And 'a moment on the hips, a lifetime on the hips.' Fuck off. Angry

Luckily, where I work now I am close to the main shops, and I go out of the office on 3 on the 4 days I am in work.

MargoLovebutter · 07/02/2019 15:05

Surely, you just spend a week saying "Glad it's not urgent, I'll speak to you straight after my lunch break." After you've done that for a week, your staff will get the message.

Ezzie29 · 07/02/2019 15:07

Where I work now I either eat in my car or we have a staff room but at my first job I had to eat at my desk and people would always come and interrupt me even tho I was clearly on lunch! And I was a junior so really didn’t feel I could say anything but it’s so unfair when people can tell you’re on lunch and they just disturb you anyway. I ended up eating outside whenever it wasn’t raining, even in the depths of winter (I did also still smoke then tbf so that was also part of it!)

agedknees · 07/02/2019 15:14

Yanbu. Do you have a worst culprit? Start interrupting their break and see how they like it.

eggsandwich · 07/02/2019 15:22

I use to eat my lunch in my car and listen to the radio it was the only way to eat lunch in peace.

MrsCasares · 07/02/2019 15:25

Close your door and boobytrap the handle when you are on lunch. Yanbu.

VanillaSauce · 07/02/2019 15:30

If you don't want to be available during your lunch then make yourself not available. Use a doorsign or put a lock on the door. Can't understand why anyone would want to sit at their desk through lunch.

Springwalk · 07/02/2019 15:34

I second going out for lunch from now on, you are just going to sound unhelpful telling people to come back. Fresh air and a proper break is good for your well-being too.

Pinkbells · 07/02/2019 15:35

Why don't you go out and get some fresh air as well as some peace during lunch hour?

Funkyslippers · 07/02/2019 15:46

It's all very well saying "go and get some fresh air" but you need to sit down really to eat your lunch and I know I wouldn't fancy doing that outside in this weather. You'll just have to be polite but honest and say that you're on your break at the moment so you'll talk to them later. My boss always eats at her desk and I've probably interrupted her a hundred times but she never says if she's officially on her break or just having a bite to eat so unless she tells me I'm not going to know

AlexaAmbidextra · 07/02/2019 15:50

Why don't you go out and get some fresh air as well as some peace during lunch hour?

Why on earth should she? She just wants to sit in comfort in the warm and eat her lunch with no interruptions.

adaline · 07/02/2019 15:53

Why don't you go out and get some fresh air as well as some peace during lunch hour?

Lunch hour? What's that?! I get 30 minutes - I don't have time to go out anywhere except the shop around the corner! By the time I've eaten, made a fresh drink and gone to the toilet I maybe have 2-3 minutes left!

HappyEverIftar · 07/02/2019 15:55

Can you turn your chair so that your back is facing the door? People may get the hint when they come into your office if your back is to them? I've tried this with success. It's annoying though, I never disturb anyone on their breaks.

AlannaOfTrebond · 07/02/2019 15:58

Just play at them.

I reckon they'll soon get the message.

FrenchJunebug · 07/02/2019 16:01

put some headphones on. You do not have to listen to anything through them but I've found (I am in an open office) than headphones are a good deterrent from people who insist to talk to you whilst you're eating your lunch. The bigger the headphones the better.

Jellyfloodagain · 07/02/2019 16:04

I'm always disturbed on my break, I'm the only one who can do certain functions and the only key holder so can't leave the premises. I'm constantly being asked to just do this or speak to someone on the phone.

DarlingNikita · 07/02/2019 16:20

I don't work in an office any more but I used to, and TBH I do think if you're at your desk you're fair game.

Having said that, I always worked at a desk in a shared office, not in my own room, so it was easier for people to come and annoy me. Could you put a sign on the door saying 'come back at 2pm' or whatever?

Moneys2Tight2Mention · 07/02/2019 16:22

Can you put some headphones in?

I work in an open plan office and those that don't go out to lunch just put a set of headphones in to show that they're on lunch.

We used to have a turkey hat that people had to wear LOL.

JazzyBBG · 07/02/2019 16:23

I never get an I disturbed lunch break. I don't really expect one tbh.

1wokeuplikethis · 07/02/2019 16:26

LOL-ing at being disturbed in your lunch hour. But then, I am a disgruntled SAHM of 4 years with vague, wistful memories of an assigned Lunch Hour.

Gina2012 · 07/02/2019 16:27

Just say no

It's about drawing personal boundaries - good skill to learn

FourRustedHorses · 07/02/2019 16:29

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)

then your lunch breaks should be paid if you must remain on site, surely?

KnitterOfSocks · 07/02/2019 16:30

I now run on my lunchbreaks. Everyone is now used to it and just sends me an email and I then deal with them after I've had a shower but still looking like a tomato

ivykaty44 · 07/02/2019 16:33

Wear headphones and when they come in shake your head - but pop a note on the door saying I’ll be back to work at 2pm

No it’s not rude and tell them your learning a foreign Language & they are interrupting you ( swearing is referred to as french😉 )

ivykaty44 · 07/02/2019 16:35

www.amazon.co.uk/beyerdynamic-Amiron-Wireless-High-End-Headphone-Black-Silver/dp/B079P4348N?tag=mumsnetforum-21

This type but cheaper as it’s a big visual clue

Swipe left for the next trending thread