To leave work early if I miss my lunch?

[leaveitnow1244]

Just that really - if I miss my lunch break am I entitled to leave early and not mention to anyone?

They leave it to us to take lunch breaks but a training course left me with just half hour to take lunch so I didn't bother and left early instead is this bad?

In my current role I can (and do) come and go entirely as I please.

In my last job I had flexibility around core hours from 10 - 2.

In the previous job we had a clock in system where I had to swipe my pass to clock in before 8.30 and couldn't swipe out until 5.

All full time hours, all doing the same specialism. It completely depends on expectations and culture in your own workplace.

What isn't?

What’s your work policy on this? That will answer your question.

Depends entirely on your place of work, but if they’ve not made it clear that you can do this, then you probably can’t. Ask them.

Not usually, it depends on what the core hours are etc. But there's no point asking here, it ultimately depends on your work place and your manager

They told me not to do this and I'm in probation aswell

I don’t understand why only having half an hour meant you didn’t take a lunch break?

@ActDottie I just missed it and then time crept up and I had another meeting

Of course you can't just leave early 🤦🏼‍♀️ you had time for lunch...so why did you leave early?

am I entitled to leave early and not mention to anyone?

We can't tell you that, it depends on your workplace and your position. That's a question for your manager.

No, always been a total no no anywhere I've worked. Although if you work extra hours, we can claim that back as TOIL but that has to be booked in the normal way.

They told you it wasn't allowed & yet you decided to skip off an hour earlier anyway? During probation period?

@Youcancallmeirrelevant there was no one else around and it was the evening

If you have been told not to do it, why are you even asking here?

Has anyone mentioned it hence the thread? Otherwise if you've been told it's against policy why would you ask if it's okay to do it?

Well, if they told you that you can't do it, why are you asking on here?

Few employers would allow this, not least because employment law specifies that you're supposed to have a break if you work more than 6 hours.

If you had half an hour, why didn't you take a break during that time?

You were BU to just leave without checking first. It really won't have created a good impression while you're still on probation.

My contract states I have an hour for lunch and I must not take it within the last 2 hours of my working day, it’s been similar in every role I’ve had.

but considering you’ve just stated you’ve been told not to do it, your OP is irrelevant- you’re not allowed to do it…

Guess I'm just a bit worried

I do this sometimes but I finish at 2 anyway, so I take it 1.30-2 rather than 1-1.30. I’m very easily accessible if needed and don’t have to leave at this time, so if a meeting is scheduled then I’ll of course stay. I think it depends how flexible your workplace generally is.

Nope

Working time regulations state that if you’re entitled to a break (based on hours worked) it can’t be taken as part of the start or end of your day. It’s to ensure people actually get/take the break they need and are entitled to during your workday

Will anyone find out?

When did they tell you not to do this? Before or after you did it?

Well this is your answer isn’t it. No reason you couldn’t have had half hour. That’s all I get anyway

You aren't being clear on why you're asking. Have they pulled you up on it after the fact? If so, apologise and don't do it again. Or did they tell you not to do it and you did it anyway?

You can't just leave early if you're expected to be on site until a certain time.

@ScarletWitchM

But she had half an hour so how is it illegal?

Then I’m not sure why you’ve bothered asking here, they’ve already told you you can’t do it.