Yet more evidence of the erosions of workers rights and how little employees are respected.
When employers of X amount of employees had to provide a space for employees to eat separate from their work space it was better.
I know it's still a requirement in some industries due to health & safety reg's and the nature of the job but I'm old enough to remember being told off for eating at my desk as it was against health & safety not to get that MENTAL space from work.
Definitely make it clear to those interrupting to pack it in and a "do not disturb sign" though really it shouldn't be necessary.
I strongly suspect employers not giving employees a way to have a proper break is counter productive too (as are many things that are seen as only of benefit to the employee), properly "recharged" employees will feel more valued, work more efficiently, won't be distracted by feelings of irritation and resentment (as op has been) and won't fall out with each other over such issues.
And in some roles could even prove dangerous (for employee or clients/customers).
I think all work places of X size should be required to have a proper break room (I say of X size as eh v small shops would struggle to provide this). It would also solve all the disputes over smelly/noisy eating as it would keep the smells and noise out of the work area.
"Can't understand why anyone would want to sit at their desk through lunch." As per pps not much before your post not all workplaces provide a break area or have somewhere warm, dry & free to eat nearby.
Maybe we should campaign for shared premises to be provided for all employees in that location for places like industrial estates? Just one decent sized room (I'm thinking of those "temp" hugs we used to use at school see attached pic) could easily provide enough space on a rota schedule for many employees.
"TBH I do think if you're at your desk you're fair game."why?
"then your lunch breaks should be paid if you must remain on site, surely?" Agreed but then employees no longer matter.
Breaks are suppose to be protected and enforced, I was always someone who'd lose track of time when I was busy and not realise I'd been working X hours so in certain jobs other employees or even the bosses would remind me I was due a break.
I did have one arsehole boss when I was younger (early 20's) and much less assertive or even aware of my rights, who wouldn't even let me go for a pee one day! It was height of a hot summer, no a/c in a shop walled with bloody Windows and equipment that heated it up too. We were really busy and I'd been working 6 hours without a break, on my feet constantly and I ended up passing out - then he panicked!
He wasn't the "big boss" but a supervisor and it was big boss's day off. He was then dreading me telling the big boss what had happened when he came back. I was chatting to my mum that night and she gave me the courage to tell the big boss who did indeed give the supervisor an almighty bollocking (they were in a closed office but we ended up hearing it because supervisor argued back quite loudly and big boss had to raise HIS voice get through to numpty supervisor! Twat!)