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.

You're entitled to have your lunch whenever you want it

What bollocks. Can a nurse just walk off the ward because she feels like having lunch, or a teacher chuck in Y12 geography because she's peckish?

Employers can decide when breaks are, as long as employees get the legal minimum.

Someone is having too many meetings if this is a problem. I wouldnt book meetings between 12 and 2 unless it was with someone I knew well who I know would be available. Similarly in mornings? There are a few in our team who are in at 8 ish every day so a 8.30 meeting involving only us isnt unreasonable but wouldnt do it as standard

Really
Go out for a walk

No I get it. I also prefer an earlier lunch as breakfast is at 6:30am. I would use 1-2 for uninterrupted work. Or take lunch from 12:30-1:30pm as a compromise.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

You're entitled to have your lunch whenever you want it

What bollocks. Can a nurse just walk off the ward because she feels like having lunch, or a teacher chuck in Y12 geography because she's peckish?

Employers can decide when breaks are, as long as employees get the legal minimum.

We’re taking about the OP, who CAN choose her lunch hour, not nurses and teachers 🙄

Not at work, but on university field trips lunch was usually scheduled for 1 or even 1:30. Way too late for me! 12 o clock is lunchtime.

I'd never even try to book anyone between 12:00 and 14:00 unless we were having a meeting that involved lunch.

@shergar

As an NHS doctor, I have no concept of an hour set aside for lunch at lunchtime. We generally get to finally inhale our sandwich at 4pm while typing letters etc. Forgive me if I’m less than sympathetic to this one......

Irrelevant to the OP.

I work outside the home and since January we are under new management so now I have no lunch break whatsoever. (Prior to this had a 1/2 hour in the breakroom.) The "new" boss (she's worked there for 25 years but was promoted in January) recently sent out an email asking us not to eat lunch at all because some coworkers are upset when people remove masks to eat. ( Of course, we step away and wolf down something in 5 minutes or less anyway.) I laughed when another coworked asked if I was aware of this latest request. I said yes and I'm ignoring it. Be glad that your company is allowing a lunch break while working at home and is trying to accomplish that for all staff without wasting extra time. And if you get annoyed with it, just think of my company that allows nothing at all for our 8 to 14 hour shifts.

I have to be relieved and relieve other people, go to lunch when I feel like is not going to work for me and many others

@terrimom

I work outside the home and since January we are under new management so now I have no lunch break whatsoever. (Prior to this had a 1/2 hour in the breakroom.) The "new" boss (she's worked there for 25 years but was promoted in January) recently sent out an email asking us not to eat lunch at all because some coworkers are upset when people remove masks to eat. ( Of course, we step away and wolf down something in 5 minutes or less anyway.) I laughed when another coworked asked if I was aware of this latest request. I said yes and I'm ignoring it. Be glad that your company is allowing a lunch break while working at home and is trying to accomplish that for all staff without wasting extra time. And if you get annoyed with it, just think of my company that allows nothing at all for our 8 to 14 hour shifts.

Just because your employer is illegally denying you a lunch break is no reason for OP to be grateful.

I think it’s understandable you want to take advantage of the situation when working at home and making the best of the pandemic! I always prefer an early lunch break too but I have colleagues that can wait till 2 or 3. Think you have the right idea of blocking it out but I don’t think it’s unreasonable your company has suggested that time. You could always propose 12.30- 13.30 as a compromise?

I can’t believe someone’s else’s employer is asking people not eat! Wtf?

To paraphrase the Dowager Lady Grantham; "what is a lunch hour"
I can't imagine having a whole hour for lunch! We get half an hour if we are lucky!

I don’t get a lunch break. Doesn’t mean nobody else ever should. I’m an icu dr so laughed heartily at the dr who eats a sandwich at 4pm.....if only!
It’s always relative.....

There’s no point in a race to the bottom. It should be that employees get a reasonable break to eat food and drink water.

We’re taking about the OP, who CAN choose her lunch hour, not nurses and teachers

The same principle applies. An employer is entitled to decide when employees take breaks, as long as they get their legal minimum. PPs telling the OP that she has the right to take her break at 12 are talking bollocks. I was using other professions as examples to illustrate that. Sorry if that was too esoteric for you to follow.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow don’t use words you don’t even understand, love. Nothing esoteric about your previous post 😂

I'm an adult and I eat lunch noon. I won't be shamed!

@Toddlerteaplease

To paraphrase the Dowager Lady Grantham; "what is a lunch hour" I can't imagine having a whole hour for lunch! We get half an hour if we are lucky!

I often think if her re weekends, that was a good line!

I’ve had so many online meeting recently that I just stop camera and eat where a meeting may coincide with literally only chance to grab something. Absolutely not ideal but needs must. I’ve been suffering insomnia - up at 3 or 4 am most day. By 12 or 1 tbh I could do with dinner, tv and a stiff drink ! WFH clock gone haywire.

I like to have lunch at midday too, but I know that is on the early side. It seems reasonable to suggest blocking out an hour From 1pm-2pm as that will cover the majority. I would block out the two hours. I generally have always tried to avoid booking meetings between 12-2pm anyway as I know people lunch at different times.

I'm quite flexible about when I eat - but something that really irritates me is that my organisation are forever organising 'lunch and learn sessions' - yet claim to be concerned about staff welfare.
TBF, these did happen pre-WFH (but at least in the office they provided lunch), and I know that I can join the zoom and take a break before or after. I just think that it's disrespectful of staff to be suggesting that no-one should be taking a break, and most importantly a screen break during the day.

It necessarily lunch but I had an 8-4 working pattern when I was pregnant. This gave me an easier commute as the trains were less busy and I was always so tired in the evenings.
I'd block out my times on my online diary and always let people know I finished at 4. Without fail everyday and I mean every day I'd get meeting being set for between 4 and 5. Also all through lunchtimes( which I also blocked as pregnant ladies need to eat y'all!

My boss was onboard 100% though as I'd get so much done in that 8-9 slot and we also worked closely with the shift teams who were in 24/7.