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AIBU?

Employer says I am not allowed to heat up my breakfast

999 replies

KittyKatty123 · 09/11/2021 16:21

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.

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

3592 votes. Final results.

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You are being unreasonable
64%
You are NOT being unreasonable
36%
TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 15/11/2021 21:03

@Carrotsandbroccoli

Eggs do stink, as do the inevitable farts that follow, especially if beans are also on the menu.

I think this is what I mean really. Sounds like playground talk.

You wouldn't be dismissing it if you'd ever worked with a bodybuilder type whose staple diet seemed to be egg dishes and protein shakes. I work in a job where the odd bad smell is to be expected, but this guy made whole big rooms smell like off meat.
I wouldn't want to be known as the stinky farter at work.
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Carrotsandbroccoli · 15/11/2021 22:28

@TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain
Tbf that sounds grim. But I don’t think that’s what this thread is about! After all, people’s digestion can throw out all sorts of horrors wherever/ whenever they actually eat their meals.

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TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 15/11/2021 22:57

It's taken my tolerance for workplace stinkers in general down several notches. The effect isn't that different whether it's microwaved eggs or incipient gastroenteritis, unfortunately!

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PixieLaLa · 15/11/2021 23:12

but I do think the vast majority of them are being childish

Actually it sounds more child-like to have a complete lack of self awareness to think it’s ok to cook eggs on toast randomly during work hours stinking out the office where everyone else is trying to work!

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Carrotsandbroccoli · 16/11/2021 06:14

@PixieLaLa

but I do think the vast majority of them are being childish

Actually it sounds more child-like to have a complete lack of self awareness to think it’s ok to cook eggs on toast randomly during work hours stinking out the office where everyone else is trying to work!

Really?? Dramatic wailing about “stinky eggs” that “honk”, and endless speculation about flatulence = normal adult behaviour

Whereas

Eating a standard foodstuff, shock horror, near people = childish???

People are very strange.
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MelMel123123 · 16/11/2021 08:24

Just get a HOTLOGIC. Bring your breakfast hot in the container, and keep the Hotlogic plugged in at your desk. Your food stays warm, and no hassle about the microwave.
I agree about not heating eggs though, that's standard workplace knowledge.

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sillysmiles · 16/11/2021 12:22

Will some people only be satisfied when we are eating completely scentless, bland mush in secret where no one can see or hear us or even witness it being prepared?!

When a bar is considered a complete meal. See the comments about "just have a cereal bar" Ignoring that they are hugely processed and not in any way as health as real food.

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Blueeyedgirl21 · 16/11/2021 15:06

@sillysmiles if I’m really hungry, I can’t even stomach something like a cereal bar. I have colleagues that just have a nakd or carbkilla bar for lunch but I need something like a jacket spud , soup, pasta salad, something semi substantial. Otherwise I feel nauseous. I do have a canteen where it’s generally considered socially acceptable to eat. I guess you can’t criticize people for eating in a work canteen?!

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Beansprout30 · 16/11/2021 16:31

Perhaps it’s actually taking longer than you think to make and eat the food? I used to work with a lady who would come in late, take ten minutes to settle herself at her desk, then go and make her breakfast and use a ton of milk that someone else had to pick up on the way to work, all in all she was clocking up about 20 mins a day faffing and eating and not doing any bloody work. And the smell is gross 🤢 sweet syrup porridge

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Mirw · 16/11/2021 16:49

Eating hot food at your desk should not be allowed... Health and safety for example. Your employer is entitled to ask you to split your lunch break into 2 if you want to have a hot breakfast. You cannot be working and eating and do your best.
You are lucky it was an informal chat not a disciplinary for misconduct.

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appleturnovers · 16/11/2021 17:15

Some really weird comments here.

If, as some are suggesting, the "real" issue is with the smell, or hot food full stop, then your boss would have (or should have) said that. But they didn't. They specifically said it was a time issue.

It's weird, I've often found that people will perceive a task to take much longer than it actually does, just because they assume it ought to take a long time. Like you said, microwaving some beans takes no longer than boiling a kettle (and the two tasks can be done at the same time) but I doubt you'll convince your boss of that once they've got it into their head that it takes ages, so you're probably best off taking them up on their offer of splitting your lunch break (3 minutes for breakfast and 27 minutes for lunch).

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TractorAndHeadphones · 16/11/2021 17:18

@Blueeyedgirl21

Whilst I don’t necessarily support op’s food choices in the office, it’s not the food it’s the situation - eggs and beans are perfectly fine to eat! Discussions about people having smelly farts because they eat eggs etc is just pathetic. Mumsnet really does have some posters with strange ideas about food. You must eat your 10 veg a day but eat beans an omg you’ll be the stinky farter! People vomiting on the floor at the smell of a fairly innocuous food. Porridge being hailed as an offensive food. Will some people only be satisfied when we are eating completely scentless, bland mush in secret where no one can see or hear us or even witness it being prepared?!

There has been some hyperbole - nevertheless offices are not set up for eating smelly food. I don't know whether it's the rows of desk in a large space with very few windows, or the general lack of other smells. But smells that I wouldn't notice at a restaurant or at home make me gag in the office.

And I can tolerate some very stinky foods ;)
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TractorAndHeadphones · 16/11/2021 17:19

*also to add by smelly I don't mean 'stinky' but food that produces a smell, any smell

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DiWoo · 16/11/2021 18:12

@MelMel123123

Just get a HOTLOGIC. Bring your breakfast hot in the container, and keep the Hotlogic plugged in at your desk. Your food stays warm, and no hassle about the microwave.
I agree about not heating eggs though, that's standard workplace knowledge.

I’d not heard of those before, they sound great, thanks for that!
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SelfAwareness · 17/11/2021 10:44

Self-awareness is required here. I would NEVER eat eggs in a work setting due to the smell as it can be quite overwhelming and lingering. It's very simple, consider your colleagues (workmates) and look for the real issue, your inconsideration of others.

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Carrotsandbroccoli · 17/11/2021 11:54
Grin
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Coffeepot72 · 17/11/2021 13:53

Could you have a croissant for breakfast? Surely that wouldn't offend anyone?

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IntermittentParps · 17/11/2021 14:01

@Coffeepot72

Could you have a croissant for breakfast? Surely that wouldn't offend anyone?

Croissants have fuck-all nutritional value. If I had one for breakfast I'd be hungry within 30 minutes, plus sluggish, thirsty and VERY tetchy. My colleagues would be begging me to go back to the beans and eggs Grin
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Thatoldchestnutagain · 18/11/2021 15:22

Anyone else's food is smelly, if you're hungry and you like the smell it's distracting because it makes you hungry if you're full up, or it's something you don't like it can make you nauseous. This is an office environment, the op is a newbie and is not taking cues from what is considered normal from her colleagues and boss, she is acting entitled! That is the problem. You are legally entitled to a break every 5 hours..anything outside that is dictated by your employer. She chooses not to eat breakfast before work, at home or whilst on her way there, there's a recognised lunch break whilst at work, she works fairly short and sociable hours in comparison to many in various work places..she is therefore being unreasonable to override other people's feelings and boundaries

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ConcernedAuntie · 18/11/2021 15:43

Many (many!) years ago when I was at secretarial college we were taught that eating any food in the office which caused a smell (garlic, onion, eggs) was an absolute no-no. Even during the lunch break. Was considered to be disrespectful to your colleagues and any visitors.

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Hawkins001 · 26/01/2022 23:41

@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.

Any updates ok ?
Report
Fromthebirdsnest · 27/01/2022 01:17

Eat breakfast at home ! You start at 9 how can you do your job while eating ? And eggs and beans? So rude to bring awful smells into work too!

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nalabae · 27/01/2022 01:55

probably the egg smell might be the issue, if you were a smoker you can go outside for 10minutes every hour which i always find annoying in work, why do smokers get more breaks

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HappyDays40 · 27/01/2022 04:29

I'd get annoyed at you champing away on beans, egg and toast and scraping a knife and fok as well as the hot egg and beans. It's not a normal breakfast for work. Take yoghurt or fruit

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MissBattleaxe · 27/01/2022 05:03

@nalabae I don't think smokers get hourly breaks anymore, not as standard anyway.

Personally I'd hate it if someone was eating baked beans next to me at their desk. OP is new and should read the room and fit in with the office culture/ etiquette.

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