To tell colleague to at work to leave me alone I when I am clearly having a break?!

[acaiacai]

I work for a global company...I cannot WFH but I sit at a desk for 70-80% of my job. We take our lunch breaks at our desk now. We used to go to the canteen but due to social distancing rules etc if you have a desk you eat there so that those who don't have desks can use the canteen.

Colleague keeps coming up to me while I am on lunch break to talk work stuff, looking for me to sign paperwork etc...it is clear as I am eating, chatting with colleague next to me (we tend to take lunch at the same time do we can have no work related chat etc)

It's starting to bug me..she has only started on our team recently but came from another dept.

I want to be nice about this but surely she should have the common sense to leave a person alone on lunch break! I mean If there was no Coronavirus then I would be in the canteen and she would come looking for me there!! (Well at least I bloody hope she wouldn't!!)

[acaiacai]

@DryRoastPeanut no we are out on our own location wise.

[dooratheexplorer]

Very annoying. She is clearly very thick skinned.

Personally, I would tempted to speak to HR about going to the canteen. You should be allowed an uninterrupted break especially considering the fact that you probably aren't being paid for it.

[dooratheexplorer]

If HR say no then ask for help in resolving the situation as nothing you say makes any difference to Simple Sally.

[Russellbrandshair]

Use the broken record technique: “I’ll deal with it after I’ve had lunch”. Her: “but I’m in a meeting then!”, “I’ll deal with it after lunch” her: “but I really need it now”, “as I said, I’ll deal with it after lunch”.
You have to teach people how to treat you. Using this technique works but you have to be firm and consistent. She’s going to give up after the third or fourth time because it will be obvious you are t budging. If it helps- visualise yourself as a terrier hanging onto a bone lol - don’t let go and don’t give in!

[Henio]

Could you pop this on over your work clothes while you're eating lunch?

[acaiacai]

@Henio 🙌 I would love too!! 🤣🤣🙈

[Ginfordinner]

Could you email her just before you have your lunch break and say something like "I am going on my lunch now, if you have any queries please could you leave it until (insert time)"?

[lingle]

A physical sign is the only way.

“Covid Regulations require me to stay at desk.
Am on lunch till [. ]
Please respect this vital break time”

Each day you stick a post it note on the blank bit with the relevant time

[billy1966]

Simple Sally is rude as fxxk.

I would ask her one last time clearly, in front of your colleague to respect your lunch break and allow you to eat in peace, as you have asked her to do several times.

Look at her firmly.🤨

Follow it up with an email.

If she does it again, HR.

You are allowed to eat in peace.

Simple Sally is a PITA.

[Ferrari458]

Honestly, be polite but blunt. "Hi X, I'm not going to talk about this now, I'm at lunch. You need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks from now on". Her "Yes, but can I just" You "I'm at lunch, you need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks". Her "But this won't take long". You "As I said, you need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks so please can you come back after 1". She won't carry on beyond 3 attempts, but if she does that's when you involve your line manager.

[SewingBeeAddict]

I always put my headphones in while Im eating.
Office rule is that you DND anyone with headphones in.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

If all else fails, you could always try the 'do it badly' way. If she hands you a form to sign, reach your hand over but don't (obviously) look at it and sign right across the middle or on the line that's clearly meant for somebody else's signature; or tick the wrong box or something.

If she realises that it will actually create more work for her - you sign on the line for the CEO (especially if s/he has already signed it), so she then has to go back, print it again and then get everybody else to re-sign it again - she might just get the message.

If she or anybody else complains, say that it's difficult whilst you're concentrating on your book/MN or with a sandwich in one hand (or chewing on a particularly solid piece of your desk , but if she could avoid your lunch break, as you've repeatedly ask, you'll be able to give it your full attention.

Even if she and others don't care about your time, they will care about their own wasted time, so she'll very soon realise/be ordered not to approach you whilst you're at lunch. What can anybody come back on you about - tell you off for not working when you aren't meant to be working anyway?!

Incidentally, if she does this during your lunch break, does she also come and interrupt you during normal working time and demand that you drop whatever you're concentrating on/person you're speaking to on the phone etc. and do what she wants NOW? Can you ask her to call or email you briefly - "Are you OK to sing something now?" and then ignore her call/email if it's during your lunch - and start overexaggeratedly looking for her (non-existent) courtesy email if she turns up on spec - or even get up and go to the toilet when you see her approaching unarranged?

Presumably, if you're asked to sign anything other than a birthday card, you're putting your name to something important above it that you really should have been given chance to read properly first before giving your agreement?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

"Are you OK to sing something now?"

SIGN - unless your industry is cabaret

[Dreeple]

Just silently stare at her nose.

[Dangermouseis42now]

@Ferrari458

Honestly, be polite but blunt. "Hi X, I'm not going to talk about this now, I'm at lunch. You need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks from now on". Her "Yes, but can I just" You "I'm at lunch, you need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks". Her "But this won't take long". You "As I said, you need to stop interrupting my lunch breaks so please can you come back after 1". She won't carry on beyond 3 attempts, but if she does that's when you involve your line manager.

this is good!

Glad you've some ideas OP on how to respond from Monday onwards

Sally's poor boundaries needs managing
I expect she interrupts you in working hours too at her convenience not yours

Several of PPs visual duggestions might help- of a flag on a stick you put atop your desk so it can be seen before they approach (that you've sharpied ON LUNCH on) or even a laminated notice you drape over your laptop that you can point to (whilst shaking your head mid-sandwich)!

[Dangermouseis42now]

@Dreeple

Just silently stare at her nose.

Mwah haha!! This is delightfully wicked !!

[timeisnotaline]

Please come back and tell us what you tried!
My offering: big smile ‘sally, my lunch break is important to me, If it’s a busy day happy to meet during your lunch though -is it 1:30 today?’

[acaiacai]

Presumably, if you're asked to sign anything other than a birthday card, you're putting your name to something important above it that you really should have been given chance to read properly first before giving your agreement?

Yes! Absolutely this!!

[Ghouliet]

Print out something like this and stick it to the top of your computer where she can see. Then if she starts rabbiting on shush her and point to the sign

[Serin]

I'd announce cheerfully and loudly to the whole office "Right, that's me on my lunch break now, if anybody talks work to me, I will stab them to death with my pen".

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

Sally sounds like she's 'out to lunch' permanently. Not the shiniest penny in the purse.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

"Right, that's me on my lunch break now, if anybody talks work to me, I will stab them to death with my pen".

If you're keeping your pen back for to-death-stabbing purposes during lunch time, you'll need to re-purpose your knife in place of the pen for the duration. You will only need to sign the form in blood one single time and she will never disturb you in your lunch break ever again

[acaiacai]

I won't be allowed to put a flag on my desk unfortunately...company guidelines states no decorations etc etc at our desks. We are a highly regulated industry.

[switswooo]

I know you plan to address it on Monday but the mistake you’ve been making is that every time you engage with her you reinforce to her that this behaviour is ok. No matter how much she says ‘I cake down earlier you weren’t here’ or ‘I’m going on to a meeting soon’, just keep saying I’m on my lunch break.

[Dangermouseis42now]

@acaiacai

I won't be allowed to put a flag on my desk unfortunately...company guidelines states no decorations etc etc at our desks. We are a highly regulated industry.

Ok. Understand that

But a laminated notice hung on string draped over your laptop or propped up on your desk for duration of your lunch break won't breach any desk decoration directives

You need a visual indicator of lunch break periods if you're required to remain at your desks for you free (unpaid) time

Maybe raise this in team meeting- assuming your manager to bring it up generally . Wellbeing is so important as are regular uninterrupted breaks