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!!)

[Porridgeoat]

Keep your lunchbox and flask on your desk over lunchtime. A complete no to any interactions about work and point to your sandwiches. Sorry it’s lunchtime, can’t discus this. Be a bit rude and cut her off. Don’t engage and start chatting to someone else about your we ex kind or play on your phone and blank her

[Porridgeoat]

Be firmer and tell her she has incredibly bad timing and it’s beginning to irritate you a lot

[PorpoiseSpitGazzette]

I like a tee-shirt on which you’ve Sharpied “ like Ross and Rachel - I am on a break “

[Derbee]

@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.

I like this too. For Day One.

Day Two would be a loud “NO!” as she approached my desk.

Or take some sheets from home, and make a “den canteen”.

[Ddot]

Sorry dear can I stop you right there, on break, not bring paid, think of me as invisible. Have a book ready

[Br1256]

This must be very stressful, I worked as a teacher and students and colleagues always saw lunch as the time to just catch you about so and so while u r not teaching.

However u did mention she is new to your dept maybe she is just trying to make contact...cd you try I am on my lunch now, so will deal with it later but if you would like to join my friend and I we are talking about ...

Just a thought

[Jroseforever]

* This must be very stressful*

Really, no.
If something like this is regarded as “very stressful” then I don’t know whether to envy or pity you

[exiledfromcornwall]

This used to drive me mad when I was working in an office, where I usually chose to eat lunch at my desk. If you have been told you have to eat lunch at your desk you are doubly within your rights to make it clear that you are on your break and will get back to the person when you are back working.

[CrimsonCattery]

How did your lunch go today?

[acaiacai]

@CrimsonCattery

Well she didn't come near me today at all but it's early days yet. 🤣🙈

[Ginfordinner]

Maybe she's on mumsnet

[OhioOhioOhio]

That's so funny. Betcha she's one of us! Haaaa!