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.

So he could move 5 minutes of his lunch break to eat hot food during his breakfast break. And move the 5-minutes tea-break to his lunch time. Hence swapping the activities all within the same total time out. In essence the same as he is already doing!
At present, his line manager sounds like a control freak.

Eating food at desk can be quite annoying to others.

I think it’s pushing it to be honest. I think it’d have to be quite a relaxed working environment to allow this.

I don't know why there's so much throwing up of hands in horror at food on this thread. It's a bit dysfunctional.
I'm probably more sensitive to smells than average as an autistic person with another condition that can cause a lot of nausea, but I absolutely would throw up at the smell of reheated egg and have in fact started heaving entirely uncontrollably at people eating smelly food in close range of me.

Really Smelly for sure ,I would not want to smell eggs and beans at my desk.
Surely you can make a sandwich or eat some oat bread or something with a cup of something hot
eat nuts they will fill you up and much better health wise than beans eggs
whisked really?

@KittyKatty123

I'd love to be as unselfconscious & unaware of others, it must make life SO much easier to be so oblivious.

Are you talk, slim & blonde by any chance?

Or male?

Employer is being weird.

I’d ask why…

If it’s a time thing, i’d point out the 15 minute breaks thing others take.

if it’s a safety thing, i’d ask to see the risk assessment.

if it’s a smell thing, i’d eat less smelly.

i like hot coffee, 50% milk, i have to use a microwave to get a hot drink. i’d leave if my employer said i couldn’t have my morning coffee.

We have a canteen and some people (not me) eat a full english at their desk! YANBU from me, I think they’re just jealous as you’re so organised.

Although I don’t mind the smell of microwaved eggs and beans, so that colours my view. Could be different for others.

Totally agree, and it might seem like 5 min prep time but in reality it's probably more like 10/15 mins

If its late morning couldn't you take an early lunch break 11 till 12? If you are eating a cooked breakfast I'm assuming you don't need a big lunch midday?

Why is it likely to be 15 mins? Both beans and scrambled egg literally take 2 minutes in the microwave. You do them while the bread is toasting. If it's either/or, it can be done in well under 5 mins.

You should also have the freedom to do yoga whenever you feel stiff/uncomfortable. And go outside whenever it’s stuffy and you feel hot. Or talk to your family on the phone when you miss them.
More fool you because I’ve only ever worked at places that do allow a bit of stretching/exercise/fresh air/walk to the coffee shop etc in order for people to function better at their jobs and – dare I say it – be happy and healthy. Yes, even in the capitalist system. Freedom to text and call and check social media too. You’re not more productive glued to a chair for eight hours straight.

I'm still not understanding why someone, at work, in working hours, should be allowed to cook a breakfast?

Surgeons, dentists, cashiers, waste disposal staff, teachers, barristers, waste refuse collectors, recycling waste workers, oh I could go on, don't stop work to cook a breakfast.

It's so entitled, like many of the WFH complainers. Eg 'I hate the sound of his earring,'

I despair.

[quote KittyKatty123]@Yayaga I'm feeling very anxious about the prospect of any breakfast now! I will probably wait till lunch and take an early lunch well away from my desk![/quote]
Why ? When they have told you what is acceptable. Why can’t you have a cooked breakfast before work ?
Do you have a cooked breakfast lunch and dinner every day ? Just out of interest.
You say you think it’s was personal well it was as far as we know you were the only one doing this so of course it was directed just at you !

I swear this has been picked up by a paper and I saw the headline on Apple News before I saw it on here. 😂

Do you not get a morning tea break? Just a lunch break?

@UniversalAuntIts that or go hungry. You soon learn to prey no-one who’s used the loo before you has norovirus. But to be fair there was only me and at the most three others who used that loo.

Seriously - eat your breakfast at home, before work. Or get to work 20 minutes early and eat before you start. There's no way anyone is productive at a desk-bound computer job while they're heating and shovelling in beans on toast!

I once had to stop a bloke cooking fish in his lunch, it fucking stank. As does your breakfast. And your colleagues are pissed off with you and laughing at you in equal measure, trust me.

I would hate work to be as nitpicking as this. They should focus on your output, not clockwatching to this extent, it's awful!

If you really don’t understand the problem 🙄
The smell and the ghastly noise you will make munching toast will be driving your colleagues apoplectic.

YABU and not considering the others in the office with your faffing about and cooking smells.

Just have a hot drink, piece of fruit or cereal bar and eat properly later.

@tiredoftiers

Yabu to microwave raw food in a microwave at work. Microwaves in workplace should be for heating food, not cooking from scratch.

What's the difference?

750 posts and op is still astounded that she's been requested not to down tools and scoff a cooked breakfast in the middle of the morning - maintaining that she keeps working throughout said scoffing 😂😂😂