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.

The clunking and scraping of cutlery outside of lunchtime is probably torture in a quiet office. It will be the smell that is intolerable though, including the farting after a bellyful of beans.

Who sits at their desk eating beans or eggs for breakfast in an office?
The smell alone, let alone that you can’t work if you’re using a knife and fork. Either eat before work or have something cold.

Eat your breakfast before you go to work like most other people do. Whilst you’re sat shovelling eggs and beans in your chops, other people are working. You’re taking the piss.

Yabu....I'm shocked you think a cooked breakfast I'd ok to eat in an office...the smell hang around for ages

As many people have pointed out, it will be the smell permeating the office that is the issue. People can put up with it at lunch time when most people are eating, but to do it mid morning is antisocial.

This thread has reminded me how I never ever want to work in an open plan office again!

There is clearly nothing wrong with eating eggs and beans on toast mid morning. People do this all the time. But put that scenario into an open plan office and it does become boak.

@WilsonMilson

Who sits at their desk eating beans or eggs for breakfast in an office? The smell alone, let alone that you can’t work if you’re using a knife and fork. Either eat before work or have something cold.

A lot of people do. It’s perfectly possible to spend 2-3 minutes eating a pot of scrambled egg with a fork while reading emails.

However, I can see the MN pearl-clutchers are aghast at the thought of anyone eating anything other than a lettuce leaf or not being showily furiously at the grindstone while at work so it’s pointless to debate it.

@gofg

Don't you have morning/afternoon tea breaks in the UK?

We do at my work. Depends on working hours.

But OP you are taking the piss. You’re making a meal then eating it presumably with a knife in one hand and a fork in the other when you’re supposed to be working. You’re quite new there and no-one else is doing this - does that not tell you anything? Plus the smell - not good.

So grateful I work where I do… no-one clocking me in and out, no-one analysing my refreshments and getting in a snit about eating at my desk, no intrusive supervision. As long as the work is done properly - that’s what matters.

I have to say I find the idea of eggs and beans every day in the office a bit odd, and can see why people might not like it so I don’t necessarily think it’s unreasonable for people to not want you to do that. HOWEVER I personally would never complain about it and would just get on with my own life.
What I don’t understand is people getting all het up about the idea of you possibly having all this extra time on a break at work, shock horror! So depressing…life is short…I’m so glad I don’t work in an office where that’s the general attitude!

Eat breakfast before you go to work? Just a crazy idea.

Its the eggs. They stink. Thats why they dont mind the cold option. I once worked with a guy who cooked fish in the microwave - it was horrible.

We used to have someone visiting work on a weekly basis who ate golden syrup flavour instant porridge. Absolutely vile. One of my colleagues adjusted the rota so she didn't have to be in the same room as the smell made her gag. So Jeff, even though you had no hair we referred to you as Goldilocks.

Microwaved eggs stink up the entire office. Please don't.

What I don’t understand is people getting all het up about the idea of you possibly having all this extra time on a break at work, shock horror! So depressing…life is short…I’m so glad I don’t work in an office where that’s the general attitude!
Well you've obviously never worked in a place were you are picking up the slack, so somebody else can sit and enjoy their breakfast.

It's unprofessional. Eat breakfast in your own time.

Unwritten rules for the office microwave- no fish and no eggs!

I'm the same as you OP, and have usually had brunch at my desk, albeit not a cooked one.
Difficult if others are complaining though.

I voted yanabu but...

....it's eccentric, are you being portrayed as such for any other reasons? humans are weird to each other sometimes and can get the 'ick' with eachother for no reason seemingly.
I'd lie low for a while and just go beige for a bit...

sorry meant yanbu

@Lalliella

But OP you are taking the piss. You’re making a meal then eating it presumably with a knife in one hand and a fork in the other when you’re supposed to be working. You’re quite new there and no-one else is doing this - does that not tell you anything? Plus the smell - not good.

Exactly what I thought.

Thing is, if you are having a cooked breakfast in the morning. then others might wish to do the same and the place will smell like a greasy spoon.

Can't you cook it at home and bring it in a soup flask?

It's not your employer's problem that you can't face breakfast at home before you go to work.

Grabbing a breakfast bar to eat at your desk is very different to leaving your workstation to rustle up some egg or beans.

You really shouldn't be eating your breakfast while working, irrespective of how quickly you can scramble your eggs.

It's not on , and the smell of cooked eggs or baked beans is loathsome.

Maybe get to work earlier to cook your breakfast and eat it before you start.

You sound daft and a bit entitled, tbh.

Its not really about smell it's about vibe. While the day is just kicking off and you'd hope the morning atmosphere is focused and energetic, you've got someone dicking around with cutlery and scrambled eggs. Do you bring the Sunday magazines in too?

If you arent hungry for breakfast before you get to work then you dont need breakfast. Have a protein bar later on your tea break instead.