Zero privacy at work

[Toomanytakeaways]

I'm leaving soon luckily. I work in a very small private summer school, we don't have our own rooms and there's no staffroom, just some chairs in reception.
There's a library but they often have lessons in there so you can't just go in.
I've been placed in one particular room over the next couple of weeks. We get an hour unpaid lunch, but people just walk in and out as they please even if it's your break.
I'm not 'senior' enough to put a do not disturb sign up or anything.
I don't mind if it's once, but on Friday I had people come in 4 times in an hour when I ate in my classroom.
I can eat outside to avoid this but can't afford to go to cafes every day.
Maybe I'm overreacting but I don't feel like I can ask people to leave me alone. It's just annoying when they (other staff) see it's the break time and that you're eating and they keep bursting in the room to talk to you.

I have never had a place of work where I could be completely alone. Just go out

YANBU to not want to do, think about or discuss work while on your lunch.

But YABU to expect a private space to eat where nobody can talk to you.

You need to start telling people "after my lunch" if you don't want to talk shop during lunch. Or, if you think that will upset people, as others suggest, leave the site.

As you are leaving soon, be firm or be out of the building. If people are upset at having to wait because they did not ask you about something before your break, that is their fault, and in any case if they are unpleasant, not long to suffer their response.

Is this your first job in a workplace setting? Privacy at lunch is really not something that's common in the workplace. Maybe if you have been working from home this is a big change for you, but this is quite a usual set up.

I dont know what you mean by this?

Its ok to want to not be disturbed while eating, however, you are capable of sayng "sorry, I am on lunch, please come back at 1pm" how hard is that?

How has privacy on breaks worked for you in previous jobs OP?

Am curious as I'm among those who in 30+ years of working has only had the option of eating at my desk, in a shared break room/bit of the office/canteen or just leaving the building. What you're describing is completely normal in most jobs. People will disturb you - your options are to ask if you can have the conversation later as you're on a break, wear headphones to give off a busy with something else vibe, or go out so they can't see/find you.

Why can't you try some of PP's suggestions?

Over ear headphones. Don't look up when the door opens.

If they get your attention say lift one ear off slightly and say 'ooh, I'll be with you right after I finish my lunch' and put it back on and look back down at your phone/book/lunch.