To ask work to always have a 30min lunch break?

[Onlyrainbows]

It doesn't happen everyday (and I'm new at my job!) But I need to go and get my toddler from nursery around lunchtime, but today, they've dumped so many meetings on me that I'd be late for him (I've asked nursery it it would be ok, sometimes they're flexible but I know they have staffing issues). Do you think that's too much to ask (from my employers).

What do you have now?

Are you looking after your toddler in the afternoon?
It's not unreasonable to say to work that you need to pick up by whatever time it is, so you always need a 30 minute block to do that and what's the best way to make that happen. People should be getting a lunch break anyway.

I have back to back meetings from 10-6. With a few breaks that amount for 90mins. But I also need to to bits of my job so, maybe I'll end up only having a 30min break (which would be used to get to nursery and answer the door for the babysitter).

No right now he sleeps for 3 hours... Babysitter gets here at 330, it bad worked well so far.

It depends on your job, surely?
You should be entitled to your lunch break but are you asking for a set time daily?
Does your job allow for that?

If you work from 10 till 6 then you would be entitled to ask for a 30 minute dinner break

Can you not mark one in your diary/ calendar so that no one puts meetings in? That’s what we’re encouraged to do.

I’m concerned that on your schedule you get no actual break! Can the nursery not do the full day?

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

Can you not mark one in your diary/ calendar so that no one puts meetings in? That’s what we’re encouraged to do.

I’m concerned that on your schedule you get no actual break! Can the nursery not do the full day?

She's said that she will have breaks that total 90 minutes including the 30 minutes she needs for the nursery pick up

Block out the time in your calendar and show ooo, the back to back call culture is ridiculous. I now schedule mine for xx.10 past the hour so I can at least have a wee and get a drink.

If you work for more than 6 hours you are entitled to an uninterrupted 20 minute break.

I think it depends on how much they need you. In my organisation it would be challenging to guarantee someone lunch break at the exact right time each day and whilst people did work more flexibly during covid, those who need to do pick ups midway through the day work part time. That’s not to say they won’t agree but it would be out of a staffing desperation rather than it being a normally reasonable request of working full time.

You're entitled to a 20 minute break but aren't entitled to say when that break will take place

This has happened to me. I now book my lunch break as a meeting in my calendar after one day where I had back to back meetings (no breaks) for 6 solid hours!

Can the baby city pick up from nursery?

What hours are you working? If the total hours worked entitle you to a break they legally have to give you the break.
If it is a case that you are working part time you can still ask but there is no legal right to provide any "extra" time.

However if you have fixed family commitments and these have to be prioritised you should discuss it with your manager asap. If your son needs to be collected and they are not willing to accomadate this long term you need to look for a job which meets your needs. If the nursery are working by exception to accomadate the late pickup you won't be able to rely on this.

The other thing is taking control of your time. Can you block book a meeting time for the pickup?

I book stuff like that in my diary as personal so people can schedule anything in there.

Nursery can't do this month, they're looking at next month. These meetings are joining other departments. So far it's been ok, or I get 5 mins late so not the end of the world. Normally if say I want my lunch break at 1230, but other departments have scheduled that time, so it doesn't depend on my preference. 1 would still be ok though

Total hours vary, but I think probably around 45-50? I have to be flexible as I have regular meetings with people in the US

Not sure if I'm reading it right but is there around three hours whilst you are in sole charge of your DC (noting they are normally asleep). Is work aware of this? If not, my concern would be in asking for the fixed lunch break you will likely have to explain that your babysitter doesn't arrive until 3.30. Do you think your employer will be ok with that?

People are regularly feeding babies on meetings, so I'm sure they'd be fine with that!

I should say, my boss probably would be as a short term solution. Obviously it isn't a long term solution as you can't guarantee your child will nap that long in the middle of the day. You're working long hours though so you should be able to negotiate the lunch break point!

And (sorry third post) I could probably negotiate it long term but it would be by acknowledging that I am restricted in what I can do those hours.

It's short term for sure , as soon our toddler stops sleeping or becomes a problem he's going to nursery FT

Just block out your time and speak to your boss about it. Make it clear you've a babysitter arriving at the same time, (they don't need to know your toddler is asleep).

I think that is perfectly reasonable. I work in a very high-pressured long hours environment, but we are encouraged to keep an hour free for lunch for mental well-being purposes.