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.

@StormyTeacups

I think a full hot breakfast is pushing it, you may take it back to your desk but presumably you aren't fully working while eating with a knife and fork?

Maybe take a yogurt, or cereal. Or do what most people do and eat before work.

Why does she need a knife to eat eggs beans and toast

@Whatsnewpussyhat

If you are that hungry that you need eggs or beans and toast, split your break and eat your meal in the staff room.

It's the fact you are taking it back to your desk and although you don't see it as an extra break, everyone else does.

And if there is no staff room?

@Clymene

There is no way I could stand sitting near you while you eat scrambled eggs and baked beans. It would make me heave.

Also you can't eat either of those while doing anything other than reading. They're knife and fork meals.

You’re doing it wrong if you need a knife and fork.

Your job clearly doesnt involve reading comprehension, does it? I said Huel does bars that are whole meals. WHOLE MEALS. In bars.
You seem a bit hangry, have you tried eating a proper whole meal instead of a bar?

A cooked breakfast is nothing. There's one where I work who looks to spend pretty much the entire day in one of the kitchens eating and watching their iPad. I commented to someone one day and was relieved to find out I was not the only one to get "the rage" when I went to the kitchen and they were there eating AGAIN! My pet hate is tuna and salmon 🤢 disgusting reeking stench that then stays the full day in the bin due to throwing out the can.

@Faultymain5 'And if there is no staff room?'

Then there'd probably be no microwave. Problem solved.

@BarbaraofSeville

I'm also surprised about all the 'eat before you get to work comments'. I would have thought that, with the popularity of 16:8 type eating patterns, that people would be more used to having breakfast later in the day.

Right!

Am very surprised that this has come as such a shock to you, how many other people in your various workplaces have cooked and eaten in the same way during working hours?

@Therealjudgejudy

You eat eggs, beans and toast...at your desk...every mid morning??

Yuck...

She literally did not say that “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.”

[quote DizzySquirrel90]@Faultymain5 'And if there is no staff room?'

Then there'd probably be no microwave. Problem solved. [/quote]
Err I’m not sure where you’ve worked but in the last 18 months (thanks COVID) I’ve worked in 5 different environments 3 had separate seating in a kitchenette area. But all 5 had microwaves.

@Starcaller

I used to work evenings and people would have whole meals at their desk Curry, chilli, reheated pizza, pasta. I always liked seeing what people had.

I think you are just the sort of person I would like to work with 😀

@Faultymain5 if you read the OP first post. Quote below.

'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. '

@KimmyKimdoo

You cook a breakfast at work every morning on your employer’s time and eat it in front of your colleagues as they try to work

Read the OP again, she didn’t say that.

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.

[quote DizzySquirrel90]@Faultymain5 if you read the OP first post. Quote below.

'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. '

[/quote]
And your point is? There is no mention of a staff room just access to a microwave. What have I missed?

@Faultymain5 you questioned the eggs/beans situation.

Also please get a life it's almost like your replying to every single person on this thread.

Your breakfast of choice in your own time. An obnoxious smell is subjective, eggs beans and toast do smell! If the rule is not upheld what is to stop someone else heating up leftover curry, Fish or anything they fancy. Some cold food smells too but that is where the line has been drawn in your office. Smelling anyone else's food smells are distracting for others, and are maybe permeating people's clothes etc. Agree, the split beak option is what you should accept

If the rule is not upheld what is to stop someone else heating up leftover curry, Fish or anything they fancy.
What indeed! Anarchy will ensue: people enjoying their food. At their place of work. A slippery slope to hedonism if you ask me.

Absolutely. It starts with one person eating a hot mug of beans and before you know it, everyone is engaging in a coke fuelled orgy.

Crikey I must work with total anarchists... our office wreaks to high heaven from cold boiled eggs, fish, hot quiche.....people have to eat something......I may not love the stench of old farts that eggs produce however I dont think my delicate nose buds have the right to trump other's food preferences. I have to say this is mainly lunchtime though. There is no staff room either but there is a microwave. Cramped Victorian NHS building.

@TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat

There are some foods that really stink when you microwave them, which is annoying, but I find it so much more annoying when people behave like ridiculous drama queens about it. I used to work in an office that was particularly bad for amateur dramatics over smelly food.

I remember one person, who had only started that week and seemed very shy, had microwaved some cheesy pasta thing. My manager suddenly grabbed his nose and shouted "ugh, what IS that AWFUL pong?! It smells like stinky feet! Ew!". Other members of my team saw an opportunity to seek some attention so they dived in and started making yucky noises and pretending to gag. I was sitting next to them and honestly, you couldn't really smell much at all. I hadn't even noticed it until they all started ranting.

I found it irritating and exhausting. I often had to bite my tongue to stop myself from telling them to shut the fuck up and get on with their work.

THIS.

I have worked with people like this and they're so tedious.

[quote DizzySquirrel90]@Faultymain5 you questioned the eggs/beans situation.

Also please get a life it's almost like your replying to every single person on this thread. [/quote]
I’m catching up on a post, sorry I didn’t realise responding to things I agree and disagree with was not allowed. I’ll defer to your judgment about what I can answer in the future shall I.

I didn’t question the eggs and beans situation. I know it was early when I started responding but I’m sure I questioned the ‘everyday’ element that people put in the situation that the OP didn’t mention.

I think you need to start timing all the time you're not fully working. I really get the impression you're taking the piss and need to get your head down. I worked at a computer all day, my breaks from the computer were when I went to the toilet or to make a drink. You must be spending half an hour nearly from start to cleanup on this breakfast. Plus your screen breaks.
Make sure you're not disturbing other people's work either.

I don't think it's because of the smell if you are able to cook it at lunchtime?

Years ago we had a temp come to work at my company. Mid morning she got out some food, put it on a plate and then started eating it, whilst not fully doing her work. At lunchtime she got up to go out for lunch. I recall the manager telling her she'd already had her lunch break!

I would imagine this is similar to how people are feeling about you!

In my previous company, hot food was banned from the desk areas and could only been consumed in the staff restaurant or break-out areas.

@TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat

Those are the same kind of people who always walk into a public toilet and shout ‘Errrgh it stinks in here’.

Yes, it’s a public toilet. What were you expecting?