Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don't want to listen to you eating breakfast at your desk

120 replies

crumblebug · 28/09/2021 08:59

Currently working in a small office of 6 people

Every morning at least 2 of them eat breakfast at their desk, in an otherwise silent office - unless of course theyre talking with their mouth full and you can hear the sloshing of yoghurt and granola which they're eating out of a tomato sauce stained tupperware box.

If you're not going to have breakfast before you leave the house, please eat it in the tea room Envy -not envy

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 28/09/2021 09:10

If they ate it in the tea room you'd complain they're having more breaks than everyone else.

Use some earphones if you can't bear to listen to it.

Sirzy · 28/09/2021 09:14

That would drive me seriously mad. I can’t cope with the sound of other people eating.

They need to find time to eat not when they are meant to be working

littleloopylou · 28/09/2021 09:14

This is the joy of open plan, I'm afraid. It's probably already miserable enough being around people who (it appears) are bubbling over with rage that you dare breathe around them.

nonsensenow · 28/09/2021 09:15

I'm wondering which of my colleagues you are.....mmmm crunchy granola and slurping yogurt.

Although I'm not allowed in my break room due to covid rules.

herculesoffline · 28/09/2021 09:15

Yeah I also think it's normal to eat at a desk, and whilst I don't think food sounds can be described as pleasant you seem disproportionately annoyed by them.

Mercurial123 · 28/09/2021 09:16

The person next to me brings in some strong smelling meaty stew every day for lunch. He heats it up. The smell is disgusting. We can smell it down the coridoor. I have to leave my office for 20 minutes. People have complained to him but he ignores them. Give me non smelly cereal any day.

herculesoffline · 28/09/2021 09:17

@Sirzy

That would drive me seriously mad. I can’t cope with the sound of other people eating.

They need to find time to eat not when they are meant to be working

But that's your personal issue, not theirs. If there are 6 people, 2 of whom eat breakfast at their desk, 1 of whom dislikes or and 3 others who are unbothered (obviously OP hasn't said) why should the singleton be prioritised over the others?
Moofart · 28/09/2021 09:18

I'm with you OP, I can't bear eating sounds. Cereal chomping and slurping is the worst!

Cocomarine · 28/09/2021 09:18

I was with you until the pointless comment about the tomato stained tub. Which suggests to me that you’re a weird, judgmental, intolerant type.

Original poster
crumblebug · 28/09/2021 09:25

They're not in my team, I couldn't give a crap about them taking a break to eat their breakfast!

In a hospital so not able to wear earphones- wouldn't be very professional. I don't think it's particularly hygienic to eat at a desk at the best of times

OP posts:
galacticpixels · 28/09/2021 09:26

I agree. This is one of the reasons I want to stay working from home. In the office I constantly had to hear people eating their breakfast, munching on crisps, apples... Drove me insane.

Boredhimtodeath · 28/09/2021 09:27

We have a whole staff briefing twice a week, 90 staff, the same woman eats her breakfast throughout every time and loudly scrapes the tub stopping people being able to hear what is being said and then licks the spoon spinning it to about 8 different directions. I genuinely can’t understand how she is so loud doing it, I would knock the tub out of my hands if I tried to do it so aggressively.

I sit in a group of around 12 people and we switch between stifling giggles and being annoyed we can’t hear what is going on.

Original poster
crumblebug · 28/09/2021 09:43

@Boredhimtodeath I can picture her smugly leaning back in her chair and ostentatiously licking the spoon while making eye contact with people Grin

OP posts:
Lockheart · 28/09/2021 09:45

It's fairly normal in my office for people to eat breakfast at desks. I do it sometimes and it doesn't bother me if others do.

I wouldn't eat something smelly or particularly crunchy. One colleague once brought in cooked fish and microwaved it to warm it up. She'd had a long week and didn't think. The rest of the office (gently) took the piss so much that no-one has ever brought fish since! Tuna sandwiches excepting...

Mrgrinch · 28/09/2021 09:46

I'd hate this. Just screams out "I'm too lazy to get up 10 minutes earlier to eat breakfast before I leave" to me.

IsabelBeck · 28/09/2021 09:46

@Cocomarine

I was with you until the pointless comment about the tomato stained tub. Which suggests to me that you’re a weird, judgmental, intolerant type.
Lol at the irony of your post Grin
CounsellorTroi · 28/09/2021 09:47

@Mercurial123

The person next to me brings in some strong smelling meaty stew every day for lunch. He heats it up. The smell is disgusting. We can smell it down the coridoor. I have to leave my office for 20 minutes. People have complained to him but he ignores them. Give me non smelly cereal any day.
I used to work with someone who heated up fish in the microwave every day.
Akire · 28/09/2021 09:48

I’m with you only because you shouldn’t need a meal break when you have just arrived at work. Cereal bar with one hand ok full breakfast which needs two hands then work are paying them to sit and have breakfast. Suggest those who don’t eat at desk start work 15min later as their paid break is at home Grin

PearLime · 28/09/2021 09:49

FGS

Put your headphones on, blast some music and crack on.

Lavender24 · 28/09/2021 09:51

I absolutely can't bear other people's eating noises and the smell of meaty or fishy things but I disagree it's unhygienic to eat at a desk unless they're actually eating off the desk. I'm so glad I have my own office now because of covid.

girlmom21 · 28/09/2021 09:51

@Mrgrinch

I'd hate this. Just screams out "I'm too lazy to get up 10 minutes earlier to eat breakfast before I leave" to me.
Or "I've got children at home and don't get chance to eat before the morning rush"/"need to eat at a certain time for medication/health reasons", no?
Lockheart · 28/09/2021 09:52

@Mrgrinch

I'd hate this. Just screams out "I'm too lazy to get up 10 minutes earlier to eat breakfast before I leave" to me.
Not everyone can eat when they first get up, some need to wait a while.

I can eat as soon as I get up, but if I'm eating breakfast at my desk because I'm coming into the office two hours early to get more work done I'm not sure I could be accused of laziness Wink

StayOrGoOrWhat · 28/09/2021 09:53

@crumblebug

They're not in my team, I couldn't give a crap about them taking a break to eat their breakfast!

In a hospital so not able to wear earphones- wouldn't be very professional. I don't think it's particularly hygienic to eat at a desk at the best of times

I’m in a hospital in a professional environment and I do wear headphones, particularly when people are eating.
Laufeythejust · 28/09/2021 09:53

Surely that’s a perk of office work- having 15 minutes longer in bed and eating breakfast at work? My entire team does it, we have a communal porridge box for if someone leaves theirs at home. I prefer the smell of maple syrup porridge to musty office smell.

CounsellorTroi · 28/09/2021 09:54

What annoyed me about the cereal eaters at their desks was that they used the milk from the tea club stuff which was paid for by all members not all of whom did have cereal. If you want to eat cereal at your desk you should supply your own milk.