'I know you're on your lunch but...'

[lostelephant]

I must hear this everyday in the office either said to myself or a co-worker and it annoys the hell out of me!

I dont mind so much when somebody comes over to my desk, goes to ask a question but then realises I'm on lunch and offers to come back later, but it's the people who acknowledge you are not working and still expect you to do something for them or answer their questions (which could definitely have waited half an hour!!)

Anyone else or AIBU?

I'm impressed you have "lunch". I have to leave the office to get away with that.

Go out for lunch ie. leave the office then you aren't available.

When new people join my team I tell them that I am very flexible about working hours etc. but my one strict rule is not to interrupt me when I am eating unless it is really urgent. I am not someone who functions well when hungry!

Ironically I’m just having my lunch and my boss came to ask me to do something!

YANBU as a principle, however in my office I don’t mind being interrupted if I’m eating at my desk and my colleagues don’t mind either.

If people don’t want to be interrupted they usually have lunch away from their desk.

I lone work and never make it through more than a few mouthfuls before customers come in. No one ever offers to come back

It's like the sound of my microwave acts as a beacon and pulls them all in

We have a kitchen type area. Some people take books or have earphones in. Others chat. Do you not have somewhere like that you can go? If you eat at your desk its normally because you're working and I dont think it's a massive leap for people to think you can be disturbed.

What bugged me was “I know you’re on lunch, no rush, do it when you’ve finished“ - so why couldn’t they have waited until I’d finished before asking?

We didn’t really have anywhere to go other than the canteen which was no good if you wanted some peace and quiet.

Lone working sounds hard. I once temped in my uni years at a Sotheby’s building for 2 weeks where I literally never saw a soul and the phone never rang. It felt incredibly isolating and I’m someone who enjoys my own company.

This seriously irritates the hell out of me.

It's as bad as 'Oooh Sparkling just the person, do you know anything about....'' when I have literally just stepped foot in the door and standing there with my coat on and holding my bags. Not even started work yet!

I'd echo leave the bulildung if possible if not earphones/have a book and make it clear - I'll get back to you when I'm done. Annoys me too!

My office recently introduced a no eating at desk policy to stop this happening.

We have a break out room now for breaks etc. Still doesnt stop people asking for an update on whatever they are waiting for.

I just tell people I’m on lunch and I’ll update them when I’m back. I’m entitled to my break. I’ve not had a negative response to saying that (although Im sure they moan behind my back...)

People just come into the canteen and ask you stuff. I think this is why you see people in office car parks sitting in their cars at lunchtime!

@40Antigon we have a small kitchen type area too, but it's half hour of constant talking no matter what time you take lunch. Most of the time I just want time to myself. I know others feel the same as I'd say 70% of the people I work with sit at their desk.

We work on an industrial estate and only have half hour so there's nowhere to really go.

Ear phones (even if not actually listening to anything) a book and a big sigh before looking up. But then I have form for being passive aggressive. My lunch is my time and I'm not sharing it for anyone.

Been there and done that. When people use to approach me at the old job I used to say 'yes once lunch is over' they soon got the hint that lunch was lunch.

I then made some good friends and we started going out for walks at lunchtime and then eat at our desks after. When it was like that I could never say no because I had my lunch break when I went for a walk so it was my own fault if food got interrupted.

My old job used to be like this because my lunch was from 1-2 but my boss always went out after 2pm. If I was at my desk and she came out to ask me something, without even looking at her I would just say "imagine I am not here, what would you do then". She would then come out with a note and stick it on my screen. I started going out for lunch most days with my friend as my friend had a boss that you couldn't say this to and get away with so if we weren't there what could he do.

Go out for lunch.

Go out for lunch ie. leave the office then you aren't available.

It's 5 degrees and raining sideways here. Am I really expected to go out in that just to have a lunch break?

'Are you on your lunch?'

'No Nigel, I'm just holding this sandwich for the hell of it'

Hmm sounds hard OP. Could you speak to the manager about instilling a rule that if someone has their headphones on between 1 and 2 then they are not to be disturbed?

Leave your desk for lunch.

Maybe don’t eat lunch at your desk then

Or just ask people to use their common sense to see that if you are eating your lunch, then you are at lunch?