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

[RoastOx]

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.

Graphista, "TBH I do think if you're at your desk you're fair game."why?

Because you're at your work station. I sometimes used to carry on working while eating, and sometimes would go on MN or do personal admin instead. I accepted that if I was at my desk, people would approach me, and I never thought it was up to my colleagues to be able to discern whether I was working, and so interruptable, or on a break, and so not to be disturbed. If I really wanted a proper break, I'd either go out or move to the sofa area away from my desk.

The OP has her own office (I used to work in a shared space), so it's easier for her to put a sign on the door/lock it/pull the blinds down/whatever to give the message that she is not working and not to be interrupted.

For a few weeks, smile sweetly and say I'm trying to be more boundaried about taking proper breaks so please can you find me when I am back. Then move onto I'm having lunch right now and don't say anything else.

pisses me off when people talk to me when i eat too

Can you put a DND sign on your door?

Does your door lock?

Darlingnikita if there isn't a space provided for employees then imo employers should be at least fostering an atmosphere where if someone is clearly eating their lunch/having their break they're left alone - and yes I've worked in such environments.

You're not paid for lunch break and LEGALLY it's supposed to be protected.

If you're genuinely needing to regularly work through your lunch break then either you're inefficient or you're employers are not employing enough people.

Ime of people who've made a thing of working through lunch regularly it's usually the former or a type of presenteeism/"look how irreplaceable I am, I'm sooooo important"

@Graphista I know what you're saying and I've seen that too but I work in the nhs and make sure I get at least one lunch break a week. Flip side is, I can take time to watch dcs' assembly without booking leave.

I think if you start being blunt and saying you're on your lunch go ask one of the other supervisors they'll start to learn to not bother you. If you help them they'll just think it okay and do it more.

Whenever people used to interrupt my break to say "I know you're on break but...

I would cut in with 'No. The sentence ends there. I am on break.'

Took a few times but then I was left alone!

I used to have a boss who seemed to wait until I was on my lunch to say “have you got a minute?” while I’m sat there with my mouth full. I wished I had more confidence back then to say “No sorry I’m eating”. It was never anything urgent either.

I get the exact same thing at work. Another thing that happens often is when the phone rings someone will answer and bring me the phone or will bring the phone to me to answer. And they know im on break because i sit in the lunch area. I dont know how hard it is to tell people to call back, fund someone else to deal with a query or to wait an hour to ask general questions