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.

@hotmeatymilk

It’s 1/5 a full English at best but I’d like OP to up the ante by microwaving some black pudding

And sausage!

I think its possibly the smell that's the main issue too.

Where I work we have a canteen on site that people buy and take away food from. The office can smell very interesting at times but I guess as so many people do it we have all just got used to it. Its not the worst thing in the world and I don't really see the issue personally but since your new company does then I would adjust my morning meal to make it something cold.

As it’s now made the daily papers the OP may not be working there for much longer.

@Diva66

As it’s now made the daily papers the OP may not be working there for much longer.

Given that she's only 2 months in and has already been spoken to by her manager for taking the piss with her breaks and, by her own admission, takes 'regular' breaks from the screen in a job she claims is solely computer based and quite intense, I'd say there's a high probability she wouldn't be there much longer regardless of whether her employer sees this or not.

You’re famous @KittyKatty123

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10188005/Mother-reveals-boss-pulled-aside-forced-stop-heating-lunch-work.html

Always gutted not to be cited as “one mischief maker suggested” in this sort of quality journalism

Hilarious! Ah well, it's the only time I've agreed with the Daily Mail comments!

I'm famous too

Hahahaha!

You are entitled to the break, unless they are going to stop all smokers going for a break outside of their lunch hour.

If they are supplying a microwave, the they are offering the option for you to warm food, they can not discriminate you from heating food because they do not like what you are cooking.

Yes hot food does create a smell of which some people do not like, but they can not discriminate against you and nor can your manager, and assume the microwave is not just for use by your department. If it is a smell thing then the save to send a communication to all, asking you al to consider what you cook or remove the microwaves.

Over all, what he has done can be taken to HR

@Livingonthedarkside

You are entitled to the break, unless they are going to stop all smokers going for a break outside of their lunch hour.

If they are supplying a microwave, the they are offering the option for you to warm food, they can not discriminate you from heating food because they do not like what you are cooking.

Yes hot food does create a smell of which some people do not like, but they can not discriminate against you and nor can your manager, and assume the microwave is not just for use by your department. If it is a smell thing then the save to send a communication to all, asking you al to consider what you cook or remove the microwaves.

Over all, what he has done can be taken to HR

Are you very stupid or have you just not bothered to read any of the posts?

OP hasn’t been denied any break she’s entitled to. She’s been asked to take it in her entitled break time.

And nobody is entitled to paid breaks whenever they feel like it during the working day. So stupid.

@Kanaloa - well according to some on here, unless you can prepare and eat hot food at will, at any point throughout the working day, you work in a sweatshop! 😂

Eggs stink. Just eat cold breakfast or toast and be considerate.

If they are supplying a microwave, the they are offering the option for you to warm food, they can not discriminate you from heating food because they do not like what you are cooking.
“Enjoys hot Tupperware eggs” is not a protected characteristic…

@hotmeatymilk - brilliant!

After turning up at a client site desperately needing the loo today and being pointed towards a grotty portaloo with piss covered toilet seat, I'm inclined to think this is something of a first world problem.

I cant believe this thread is still going

@BorderlineHappy

I cant believe this thread is still going

It's popped up in the Fail now so will doubtless have garnered a few new followers from there.

Honestly does no one know how to eat properly on this thread?
Chopping, slurping, shoveling, gulping , crunching...there is a lot of unhealthy attitudes to food here in my opinion

You would hate to work with my team, our CEO regularly eats an entire cooked chicken in the office. Just a chicken. The whole chicken.

@hotmeatymilk

If they are supplying a microwave, the they are offering the option for you to warm food, they can not discriminate you from heating food because they do not like what you are cooking. “Enjoys hot Tupperware eggs” is not a protected characteristic…

Eh! That's news to me!

@KitBumbleB

Honestly does no one know how to eat properly on this thread? Chopping, slurping, shoveling, gulping , crunching...there is a lot of unhealthy attitudes to food here in my opinion

You would hate to work with my team, our CEO regularly eats an entire cooked chicken in the office. Just a chicken. The whole chicken.

Is he on one of those mad diets, was it Atkins? You can eat 15 chickens, but not one grain of rice?

Nah, he is just mad

I could not work anywhere where I am controlled and not treated as an adult. At the end of the day if your job is done well what is the issue. I find it strange that colleagues would complain about smells. Surely that is EXACTLY what a microwave and eating facility is for! In this cold country hot food is obvious. I am thin, have poor circulation and get cold in front of a computer without moving. Some say eat cereal but that is actually not healthy and gives brief energy. You are perfectly correct - heating that egg takes the no extra time in conjunction with making tea.
Either they don't like the smell or feeling jealous of the minutes extra you are taking.
In that case, take less lunch break and see if the issue is settled. Why employees don't get that work is a huge part of an individual's life. You get the most out of people who are happy and I could not work in an environment that can not tolerate individual (reasonable) differences. And about messing on the computer - this is not school. How many adults at home eat over computers without a single incident?? 😑 Probably covered by insurance anyway.
I hate this immature, nitpicking, inflexible atmosphere in the workplace. An atmosphere already exists now because you're thinking, "Who reported me?". Someone who is petty and resentful that the new kid on the block does things differently! The kind of place who will turn a blind eye when you put in EXTRA time. Feel so grateful for my employer right now! Good luck ❤

totally agree 👍