'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 used to take a newspaper out when I was eating lunch.

It's the risk of an al desko lunch unfortunately. Still happens if eating elsewhere, but the risk decreases proportionally to distance from your desk.

I don't live near enough and have a long enough lunch break to go home in it. But it would be such an effort to go back in to work if I did!

I work alone and also get arsey customers who have to wait 30 mins for me to come back and serve them...tough shit....im entitled to that break and im bloody taking it !!!

YANBU at all. I've been known to take a hot water bottle out to my car on freezing cold days. Otherwise I would be harassed all lunchtime.

This is so typical of British office working mentality though - expecting people to come over, read your mind (if no sandwich is in hand) and understand the exact terms and times of your lunch hour, without a word uttered from yourself!

What happened to "I'm so sorry, I'm actually taking a break, can I come back to you with this in 40 mins?"

It's this seething weird passive aggressive culture that's so prevalent . Yes you have a right in theory to sit at your desk and eat, though I personally abhor it and encourage my direct reports to go out and take a break away from the desk and screen. But you don't have a right to then expect everyone else to mind read and understand the exact timings of your lunch hour.

What if for example you happened to have eaten your sandwich in the first ten mins, then was sitting browsing the internet - how on earth would anyone be expected to know you're "on lunch?"

YABU

Because Gin we are on set breaks, whole office at the same time. If someone else chooses to work through it shouldn't affect me.

Also if I was just faffing about on the internet I would probably answer a quick question.
That said we don't use the work computers for that you would do that on your phone.

Go sit in your car

Go sit in your car

How about if you walked, or got public transport to work?

I would just smile brightly and say" sorry this is not a working lunch" they quickly got the idea to leave me alone.

Yes, how astute of you, I'm on my lunch. Or fuck off I'm eating should do it.

What if for example you happened to have eaten your sandwich in the first ten mins, then was sitting browsing the internet - how on earth would anyone be expected to know you're "on lunch?"

Sorry but I think you've missed the whole point of my post... I'm not talking about people who don't realise I'm on lunch, in fact I've said I dont have an issue if people don't realise it, my issue is with people who acknowledge you're on your lunch and ask you to do things as though you're still working.

I appreciate what you're saying about getting away from the desk though, I'll have to try and find a work around.

easyandy101, do you live in the UK? Assuming you're not self-employed, if you're lone working your employer should allow you to close for lunch or provide cover for your break!

Working in retail for years I really don't find it hard to believe that no one offered to come back later. My friend had to take her lunch while working because she was young and didn't realise that her boss telling her that she wasn't allowed to take a lunch break away from the till was a breach of her rights and illegal. Many customers would actually get annoyed that she dared to eat while at the till! One got seriously huffy and said she should be focusing on the customers, not food, and my friend explained that she was on her lunch break but there was no one to cover the store so she had to stay at the till, and the woman said something along the lines of 'why are you telling me this as if I care? Do your job and put the food away'. People. Lol.

why should customers have to come back? If it's opening hours of course you should serve them. What job do you do?

They shouldn't, if i wanted to i could lock the door but i don't want to miss the trade. Also I'd have to sit inside and people could see me unless i sat on the floor behind the counter

If people can see me then they'll bang until i let them in

And yeah I'm entitled to a break but i can be quiet all day so don't really feel like i need one it's just me heating food is like a summoning

My parents once went somewhere where there was a lone worker to buy either a kitchen or something for the house-can't remember exactly. She ate beans on toast throughout their chat.

YABU

you are in the office, so you are available. I can't stand people who are so precious about their lunch - you are right in front of me, do I really have to go back to my desk and send you an email instead of just telling you?

If you want to go outside, go for a run or whatever, that's absolutely fine, but if you are in the office, you can be talked to!

Ooh OP I have a trick for you. Do you use phone headsets for calls? I sometimes point to my microphone indicating I’m on the phone. Gets rid of people pronto.

I never get a lunch break and just squeeze in eating whilst working. I work in a school where I have to prep my classroom for the next lesson in breaks and lunches and do all my paperwork etc and often have duty and/or run a club in break times so I barely have a chance for a wee.

I once had a job with specific break and lunch times (15 minutes in the morning and an hour at lunch. It was in my contract) and was told off for not finishing my breaks and going back to work early before the end of the break time so I never got my full lunch hour and break time. I think most jobs you don’t get a proper break (???) or maybe that’s just my experience.

@kingsassassin I hear you. My company doesn't supply parking so I have to park elsewhere on a daily basis or move my car every few hours to avoid a parking ticket. I can't sit in my car at lunch as it's 15 minutes away and I would look super weird. We have a small kitchen and people still interrupt when you're in there. It's almost a no-win situation.

ThatMuppetShow I can't stand people like you who think you're so important you can't wait for people to finish their lunch which is a legally provided requirement.

Why can't you send an email in the first place then people can reply when it's convenient to them?

It's exactly one of the reasons why so many people in the UK hate their jobs, the complete lack of respect for others, particularly in subordinate positions.

Nhs worker here impressed you can eat...getting time to go to the toilet is hard sometimes. Right re the lunch time leave your desk and sit somewhere else. You shouldnt eat lunch on your desk. Unless you clean your phone, computer etc you eating alot of bacteria! Please give yourself a break and leave the desk and get away from the computer.

Pop up photo booth tent, £30 from Argos will fix it @lostelephant😁

I eat lunch in my car to get away from this. Have done for years. I get the peace I want on my lunch.