Do you suffer from "lunch-ism" at work?

[justdivein]

Like many people I'm working from home at the moment. On paper we can take lunch whenever we like, and for me that is usually at 12, because that's when I get hungry, and when my DH (who is working in another room) also gets hungry. Our daily lunch date is one of the perks of working from home.

However ... in a bid to improve the work-life balance of people who are too disorganised to mark their preferred lunch time in their online calendar , so end up with back-to-back meetings, our management now suggests that everyone should generally avoid booking meetings between 1-2pm. So, all of a sudden:

1. the preferred lunchtime of (presumably approximately) 50% of staff is considered less sacrosanct than that of the other 50% of staff,
2. my tentatively reserved 12-1 slot is being regularly and un-apologetically breached in order to leave the 1-2 slot free,
3. if I want to protect my preferred lunch slot, whilst also respecting the 1-2pm curfew, the combined effect is a significant reduction in the number of meeting slots available to book.

Rant over ... it's time to draw a line in the sand ... I'm off to convert my tentative lunch booking into a fully blocked out slot.

Should have known this would get a ton of Four Yorkshiremen replies.

I'm in the civil service. What is this "lunch hour"?

Oh god, the live to work never take a lunch break and haven't been sick in 82 years people have invaded.

Any day where lunch happens somewhere before 4pm is a good day.

FFS Woman, have an apple at 11 or something. Some of us are spending 12 hours a day sweating in PPE, and you're outraged because you and your DP might need to have your lunch an hour later? Get a grip.

You get an hour for lunch 😲

I would love to work somewhere that mandated a lunch hour. They could say it has to happen at 10 in the morning for all I'd care. Your employer are saying that basically you have this time to be at your desk unmolested. Why is this a problem?!

Jeez OP, if this is all you have to worry about, it’s a charmed life you’re leading.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

FFS Woman, have an apple at 11 or something. Some of us are spending 12 hours a day sweating in PPE, and you're outraged because you and your DP might need to have your lunch an hour later? Get a grip.

Have an apple made me laugh but it is so true, end of thread 👏🏼

Just block out your calendar before with your lunch hour. I did that in a previous job otherwise the bastards didn't let me get one thanks to all the other meetings.

Might I suggest .. 12.30 - 1.30?[smile]

I have also never booked out my lunch space. That’s the kind of thing that would get a hmm at our place. The only time I’ve put lunch in my calendar is if I’m meeting someone and having a longer lunch.

You don’t call it lunch! Just mark it out as a private appointment/unavailable.

But OP hasn't been told she has to take her lunch at 1 just that meetings shouldn't be booked from 1-2 so I don't really see the problem. Book it out (not tentatively but solidly) from 12-1. Like others have said, it's two hours in the day with no meetings.

By the way, I don't know anyone who actually puts their lunch break in their diaries. It's just a question of fitting it in when looks like it can happen!

Compromise on 12.30 to 1.30?

Talk about first world problem....

Should have known this would get a ton of Four Yorkshiremen replies

Of course A klaxon goes off and they all pile in. I'm only reading for the fake-incredulous "You get a lunch hour"? posts. Absolute gold

I am uncomfortable with the semi colon in your title - what is it doing there?

Christ it's tedious when people pile in to say "god what a lucky life you have if this is a problem", "I don't even get a lunch hour", "well I haven't eaten since 1984 and I'm chained to my desk"... Are we only allowed to ask about things on the internet if we've checked first that you statistically the worst-off person in the entire world? Sucks to be you if you don't get lunch. Doesn't mean nobody else is allowed, you miserable bastards.

I’m with you on 12-1 being optimum lunch time- but I get up at 4am every morning so on average my body clock runs around 3 hours ahead of everyone else. I’m ready for lunch at 9am and dinner at 3pm! I have funny eating habits when in the office so being on site / at home has been great.

Just block your lunch out - that’s what I used to do.

Until a recent change in routine meaning a later start in the mornings, I always had lunch at eleven, and was very hungry by that time. I'm amazed that so many people think 1-2 is normal. I'd assume 12-1 is typical.

@Burntbiscuits

I am uncomfortable with the semi colon in your title - what is it doing there?

There’s no semi-colon in the thread title.

@CheetasOnFajitas - but then everyone knows it’s lunch or the gym!!!

First world problem alert

No one at my work waits till 1 pm for lunch that's madness.... ! I eat mine at 11.00 😁

And noone has suggested 12.30 to 1.30pm, which is my preferred time (we only get half an hour anyway but I like to take it between. 12.30 to 1.00pm)