Employer says I am not allowed to heat up my breakfast

[KittyKatty123]

I work full time, 9-5, computer facing all day, work that requires a lot of concentration. I understand the important of taking regular breaks to get away from the screen but don't take the mickey with this. I can't eat first thing in the morning so I have always eaten mid-morning, at my desk, sometimes something cold, sometimes something that needs a minute or two in the staff microwave.

Past employers have never had an issue with this.

I'm fairly new to this job but in the past two months that others have observed me doing this, including my line manager, no-one has ever raised it as an issue. We have access to a microwave and toaster so sometimes I'll bring in a tub of beans, or eggs that I've already put in a bowl and whisked at home so it takes 2 minutes in the microwave to heat them, sometimes I'll do some toast at the same time. All during the space of time it takes me to make my first cup of tea of the day - which is taken after having already put in 1-2 hours work since I got in that morning.

All of a sudden my line manager took me aside and said "it had been noticed" that I was heating up my breakfast and that I was no longer to do this as it was in work time, that the microwave and toaster were only for lunch breaks, unless I decided to split my break over both. This seems ridiculous to me as it takes max 5 minutes and I then bring it back to eat at my desk whilst working. I have seen colleagues gone for much much longer than this if they get into social conversation with colleagues.

Also, this instruction was directed only to me, not as a general "heads up" to the team or department as a whole, so it very personal.

In my mind, from an occupational health point of view, it is very important to take regular breaks throughout the day from VDU work, to make tea, go to the loo, chat with a colleague etc, so why is heating up food whilst making my tea any different.

Am I being unreasonable here? Do others do this at work with no issue? As I said, past employers have never had issue with it and I don't take the piss with it. Thank you.

[RachelGreeneGreep]

[RachelGreeneGreep]

Oops

[RachelGreeneGreep]

4

[3scape]

Did I get it right? 4

[FelicityPike]

5

[RachelGreeneGreep]

6

[RachelGreeneGreep]

7

[RachelGreeneGreep]

Ending - they all lived happily ever after.

[OrderInTheCourt]

Come on, @KittyKatty123

Come back.

[SirSamuelVimes]

Can we leave one space at the end for the OP to come back with an update?

Pretty please, @KittyKatty123??

[NigellaLawdaughter]

@ThumbWitchesAbroad

Awwww, isn't it dead yet? Nearly there....

It's goin' down for the count!
10 . . .

[NewYearCalavicci]

I bet the eggs at the start of this thread are beginning to whiff just a bit !

Die you zombie thread

[RachelGreeneGreep]

@ThumbWitchesAbroad

Awwww, isn't it dead yet? Nearly there....

Nearly

[MaverickSnoopy]

Someone has complained. Either because of the smell or because they think you're taking too longer and "it's not fair".

To be honest a smelly breakfast would annoy me, but I wouldn't say anything and would accept it.

Either say OK and say you'll take 2 mins break in the morning and then the rest at lunch time or take something pre made (fruit, muffins, make up a batch of breakfast burritos/muffins/bagels, freeze and pull out). The way they've worded it, it sounds like they're factoring in the actual eating time though. Take the opportunity to check company rules on rest breaks from screens and what the expectations are. You may be able to leverage the response.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Awwww, isn't it dead yet? Nearly there....

[Westerman]

Making and eating breakfast every day while you're supposed to be working is taking the p. 5 or 6 minutes a day is half an hour a week that they are paying you for but you're not working. I'm not surprised people in the office have got fed up with you and mentioned it to management.
Just because you've got away with it in the past doesn't mean z different employer will allow it. You'll have to come up with a different solution.

[godmum56]

zombie

[Planetzero]

In my workplace people might reheat something for lunch (separate kitchen area) but I have never known anyone make scrambled egg and beans. That’s very unusual. And no one would eat hot food at their desk, only in the staff area.

[girlmom21]

It wasn't even a good thread. How's it made almost 1000?!

Thanks Hawkins

[RachelGreeneGreep]

Definitely!

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

We can get it there!

[RachelGreeneGreep]

Fortunately only 20-something posts to go, and then it can never be resurrected again!

[OrderInTheCourt]

Food is for wimps.

[Womencanlift]

I have only ever worked in large financial services offices (large floors with no windows). Every office had a canteen serving full breakfasts (including eggs and beans) as well as omelettes. Fairly standard for people to go get a breakfast and eat at their desk, especially on a Friday where it’s pretty much the office norm.

Never seen anyone fainting at the smell

[ElftonWednesday]

Employers can impose whatever rules they want, but I'm glad I've only worked in places where they only care whether you get the work done and not what time you eat something or take a break. I would hate it.