WFH - am I entitled to a lunch break today?

[millerjane]

I've been lucky enough to work from home during this pandemic. All morning I've been unable to sign in due to a network wide issue (according to the IT help desk). It appears I'm the only person in my team having this issue. Whilst I've been unable to work I have had to message/speak to the IT people and follow their instructions. So obviously I haven;t been working as normal.

But am I entitled to have an hour lunch despite this? Manager just rang me and seemed annoyed when I asked her to ring back in 20 minutes as I was in the middle of lunch (consists of going for a walk and eating my sarnie).

AIBU?

Good on you for setting boundaries. It’s healthy.

@Grobagsforever couldn’t have said it better

I really suggest OP, that you don't consider a job in a merchant bank. It wasn't unknown to do a day's work and then work on until 4am ish (pizzas to sustain us). Then home for a few hours sleep, shower, change of clothes and back to the office.

I don't think that would suit you at all.

It so depends how you said it and your existing relationship.

Generally speaking it’s not weird to say “oh I’ve just popped out to get a sandwich can I call you back as soon as I’m back home”.

However - I get a sneaking suspicion that this isn’t your bosses first issue by the fact that they were annoyed.

If you had literally just started your lunch break - why did you answer the phone?

Surely if it's important to you to protect your lunchbreak, no work calls should be rule no.1??

However - I get a sneaking suspicion that this isn’t your bosses first issue by the fact that they were annoyed

I can imagine there's a whole host of issues on both sides by just reading all of the OP's other threads. One of her other 'work' ones has been deleted though.

Unfortunately unless you are best mate with your manager, she is not going to appreciate this...

Yes, you’re entitled to a lunch break. Assuming you work in an office environment, it’s probably likely that you don’t have a set lunch hour and take it when convenient for you and the business.

Speaking of entitlements, and seeing as you’re on a graduate programme, I’d guess you’ve joined your employer fairly recently, probably on a fixed-term contract, and with no guarantee of a permanent role at the end.

On that basis, your employers are:
Entitled to let you go without much explanation if you’ve been there for under 2 years.

Entitled to pay/have you work just your notice as you wouldn’t have an entitlement to redundancy.

Entitled to decline you for consideration for future permanent positions because you’re not a team player.

Maybe weigh those entitlements up, OP.

I remember you from the armchair thread and assume you’re still living with your parents now? Being unemployed and not having the means to move out would probably have a greater effect on your mental health than having to defer a walk for an hour.

Op, you should have just taken the call.

You should have taken the call. If there are redundancies don't be surprised if you are one of them. Unbelievable entitlement

I don't get all these responses and I'm a Manager.

If I called one of my employees and they asked if they could call me back as they are on lunch I wouldn't give it a second thought.
Certainly not start weighing them up for redundancy or forever judging their flexibility based on one delayed call.

Unless the OP works for MI5 or the MOD, I don't see the issue.

People remember the consequences. Again, honestly, in the bustle of a work day I really can't imagine someone holding on to this one, unless they do so deliberately in a 'keeping score' kind of way.

An environment in which it's possible to keep some kind of boundaries is really not 'unusually tolerant', certainly going by this thread and IME.

'or you just imagine that’s how it should be.'
How patronising.
I'm a freelancer these days and, somewhat ironically perhaps, considering, I tend to work long hours/eat at my desk/be as available as possible in e.g. checking and answering client emails when out and about and even on holiday etc.

Before I became freelance, apart from one boss who groused, bitched and made up problems to stress people out with if everyone wasn't in the office before and after the official hours of 9.30–5.30 (who lost a lot of staff over the period I was there and afterwards), my experience has generally been of reasonable flexibility on both sides.

RainMustFall, that sounds like hell. And I can't say it makes me respect or admire you.

Eileithyiaa, well said. Some people on here seem to think that either their company would crumble if they didn't take every call and stay on for every possible late hour.

I would have also taken the call. Sorry OP

I would have taken the call and had lunch later too.

Yes, you’re entitled to your lunch but I think allowing for one offs like this are part of being a team player. I do professional placements as part of my course and sometimes the way things fall means there’s just no time for proper lunch. I don’t think that’s anyone taking advantage, it’s just what happens. I bet your boss has to take calls in her lunch break sometimes!

You’re on a grad scheme and refused to speak with your line manager about work when the network prevented you from working in the morning?! Best of luck finding a permanent role.

According to the OP her manager sounded annoyed, telling the OP she has made the right decision is no good if she has her grad scheme terminated, not because she was inflexible this time but because she remains inflexible in the future. Now is the time for the OP to get her feet under the table and ensures she has a good reference.

Sorry, I'm another one who thinks you should have taken the call.
My work place is very flexible, so sometimes my "lunch hour" is spread out across the day in a few small batches, or even an early finish/late start. Sometimes, if we've had a busy week and not taken our full hours every day, we have a 2 hours team lunch and games on the Friday afternoon.
None of that would work if we weren't flexible to the business needs

You’re on Reddit, op....

I cannot tell you the last time I had a lunch break - planned or otherwise (social worker, court based). I’d have taken the call and had lunch later, unless perhaps you’re on medication or something and needed to eat at a certain time. Being inflexible isn’t thought well of!

Also, from my reading of your post, it sounds like you’d already had a 40 minute break by the time your manager rang.

Exactly what MrsNoah202 said

WFH often leads people to overwork and try to be more available to offset guilt and be ‘seen’to be working. This isn’t good for wellbeing. You are totally entitled to a lunch break - it’s essential and sorting out an IT problem that is getting in the way of work is work. It’s certainly not rest and relaxation!

Of course you are entitled to your lunch break. My boss wouldn't call me during mine! Neither would my husband's and he I'm turn wouldn't call his team. It's not healthy to be constantly on call.

Yes you are entitled to a lunch break still as it’s not your fault the IT didn’t work and you have been trying to sort it out. However, you are being very inflexible about not talking to your manager. If I was your manager I’d be cheesed off to! You could take your break later, or finish work early. (And yes having a lunch break is important for mental health etc ... but it’s not going to do much harm giving it up / doing it later and show willing for one day).