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).

Where I work, anyone in your position just has a repeated blocked out time on their calendar and any meeting requests over that time will be rejected.

Surely you just reject meeting requests at times you are already in another meeting - so this is just the same. If you accept it, people will just disregard the calendar item saying you are unavailable.

I don’t think this will work tbh….you are entitled to a 30 minute break but it’s still a work day so i dont think it’s entirely appropriate to say you must take your break at X time if is going to be inconvenient for a number of other people on a regular basis, especially if you are new in the job.

Yes, I totally get that it's inconvenient for the regular meetings, but I think can probably start blocking either 12:30 or 2 depending on the day. I've figured out I can join this one on my phone.

I'd be totally fine with moving a meeting to fit around someone picking their child up. I'd be really pissed off if I moved a meeting to accommodate this and then the person wasn't properly invested in the meeting anyway because they were being distracted by the toddler or babysitter or whoever.

I think you need to look at FT childcare asap.

These years will fly by and he’ll be at school soon!

In the meantime I would suggest blocking the time out as “busy / meeting” - that’s how my husband does it!

Is half an hour actually long enough for you to get to nursery, pick up your son (quick chat with the staff), get home and get him settled in bed asleep?

As they get older and start faffing, this may take you longer than half an hour!

30mins is absolutely enough, 25mins is the average with 18 being the quickest turnaround.

Do they have a home working policy? I’d be surprised if your work would approve you being in sole charge of your child whilst working. It puts them in a difficult position if anything did happen not to mention your child would take priority over meetings if they woke up crying/ wouldn’t sleep etc. Are they doing this because they don’t want to broach the subject directly. You’re entitled to a 20 minute break legally but you can’t insist on that being at a certain time. Unless your contract says differently?

Not unreasonable to ask for a 30min break but most companies would expect you to be flexible as to when that's taken and to fit in around calls. If a call has to take place at a specific time you need to be on it and adjust other arrangements accordingly - I will take a break anytime between 11.30 and 2.30 depending on calls.

Presumably you also have a plan for when your company returns staff to the office? Although we all work remotely at present, all staff in our organisation are aware that is not a permanent state and in theory we are expected in the office 1-2 times per month. Everyone is therefore expected to ensure their childcare arrangements aren't reliant on them being at home because that will change. I'm sure most employers are the same.

You need childcare - you can’t work effectively and look after a toddler for 3 hours.

I also work internationally and I can’t schedule a set lunch precisely because I have calls to schedule across the globe and it depends on others’ availability when these happen.

I'm a fully remote employee, so I'll never be expected to go back to the office. There's no working from policy set up, but as mentioned they're VERY family friendly. I was on one meeting with at least three babies and the CEO was part of the meeting!

10-6 minus your breaks is 6.5 hour day? So not more than a 35 hour working week?

No I start at 9. Realistically today is a 9hr working day the 90mins are the breaks between meetings, I need to do my other workload at that time too!

Well no it’s not a 9 hr working day when you have breaks. Every job deducts your breaks for your hours worked.

9-5 is 8 hours minus 45 min lunch for eg is 7.25 hours a day x 5 is 36.25 hours a week (what I did in my last job).

In my job now I do 40 hours a week. 8-5 min-fri with an hour break for lunch.

*Mon - fri

Surely what you need to do is speak to your manager and if they are happy to approve your set lunch break you block it out on your calendar? If you’re asking can you insist, I think the answer is no

My contracted working hours are 9-530. With a 1hr lunch break (in theory) but almost every single day I have meetings in the evenings

So you need a set break to go to nursery and another set break at 3.30 to open the door to the babysitter?

Who is minding your toddler if they wake up between you both getting back from the nursery?

I think you are being U and should you full time childcare if you are working full time.

@Ovenaffray

So you need a set break to go to nursery and another set break at 3.30 to open the door to the babysitter?

Who is minding your toddler if they wake up between you both getting back from the nursery?

You're on one today aren't you? Most employers don't insist on a set break if you move away from your computer for 30 seconds.

@Ovenaffray

Well no it’s not a 9 hr working day when you have breaks. Every job deducts your breaks for your hours worked.

9-5 is 8 hours minus 45 min lunch for eg is 7.25 hours a day x 5 is 36.25 hours a week (what I did in my last job).

In my job now I do 40 hours a week. 8-5 min-fri with an hour break for lunch.

I think OP means they logged in at 9am to do some paperwork/emails/etc. have mostly meeting scheduled 10-6 (a total of six and a half hours of meetings scheduled between those times and 90 minutes of that time unscheduled/not in meetings) and will then do further non meeting based work after that this evening.

Are you working today because of I were your employer I'd be not at all impressed that a new starter was not only working with a toddler at home on a daily basis but also taking lots of breaks throughout the day to use social media.

You need proper childcare even if your child is asleep because one day very soon they won't stay asleep for 3 hours. No matter how family friendly your company is this is not a suitable plan and its not reasonable to take your break every day at the same time if doing so is impacting on the company.

@girlmom21 no? I’m not “on one” I’m asking a question?

I work from home. I have set breaks and I also have times when I move away from my laptop (but I’m still available via my phone). I’m not in some charge of a toddler for 3 hours whilst being at work. My contract of employment would not allow me to do that.

OP's toddler is at nursery at the moment, I think.

And everyone posting on here to chastise the OP - are you either not at work today or is your employer happy for you to be posting on social media?