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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave work early if I miss my lunch?

190 replies

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:15

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?

OP posts:
Theluggage15 · 06/03/2023 21:23

So they say you can’t leave early, you left early and you’re asking if it’s ok? Why are you asking? You know the answer.

HermioneWeasley · 06/03/2023 21:25

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:46

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

So they told you not to, you’re in your probation period and now you’re worried?

there’s no helping some people.

Nimbostratus100 · 06/03/2023 21:25

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:58

Guess I'm just a bit worried

so are you saying you have done it?

Was this before or after you were told not to?

If it was before, then nothing to worry about, just apologise and say you misunderstood the rule.

If it was after - then yes: be worried

saleorbouy · 06/03/2023 21:30

Consult your contract and HR, we don't know how your workplace is run regarding hours.
I have a very flexible employer and your suggestion would be ok but yours might not be the same.

Zanatdy · 06/03/2023 21:37

In my place even if you don’t physically take it you have to add it to your time sheet (30 mins)

sunshineandshowers40 · 06/03/2023 21:45

Really depends on your job, I could do this with my current job (30 mins) but it would not have been allowed at my old job.

sunshineandshowers40 · 06/03/2023 21:45

Although I'm not sure if it would work if I wanted to miss lunch every day

Womencanlift · 06/03/2023 21:50

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:51

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

If there was nobody there does that mean that you were supposed to be covering the phones/shop floor/wherever you work?

Personally I wouldn’t have risked it anytime but especially not while I was on probation

Ilkleymoor · 06/03/2023 21:53

I have flexitime but you can't work through your whole lunch, you have to have 30 minutes minimum as lunch. I think that's also a legal requirement.

Shinyandnew1 · 06/03/2023 21:54

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:46

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

Why did you do it if you already knew they’d told you not to?!

ChrisPPancake · 06/03/2023 21:54

Depends which manager is on duty in our place! We have one who says working through lunch is a choice you make and you need to stay until your contracted finish time. The other is more "as long as your work is done you can go".
Our lunch break is half hour max.

Jules912 · 06/03/2023 21:56

I can't skip lunch entirely ( apparently this is against the law even if it's my choice), but quite often only take 20-30 minutes so I can finish earlier.

RumNotRun · 06/03/2023 21:56

SnoopDogisamenace · 06/03/2023 21:16

The reverse of this exact thread was posted last week but I don’t know how to link!

I was thinking that too. It was from the manager's POV but I can't find it now.

TheOrigRights · 06/03/2023 21:57

OP: AIBU to leave work early?

Also OP: left early ... is this bad?

Also OP: They told me not to do this and I'm in probation as well

Based on what you have told us, YABU.

Why are you asking MN though?

Aldith · 06/03/2023 21:59

In my work place the office staff had core hours that they had to be in between 10am and 4pm. As long as your work was completed for the day and you were in for the core hours they didn’t mind when you started and finished. Lunch has to be taken in the building but we have a staff room which has water machine, coffee and hot chocolate machine, kettle, fridge and microwave as well as tables and chairs.

If you are on probation though and have already been told not to do it if anyone realises it could be a sacking offence.

LIZS · 06/03/2023 21:59

You should have stayed, then mentioned it when you saw your manager. is your lunchtime fixed contractually as more than half an hour?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 06/03/2023 21:59

AdInfinitum12 · 06/03/2023 20:18

If you work more than 6 hours a day you're entitled to a 20 minute break. This cannot be taken at the end of your shift in order to leave early.

That's technically true but in some places, your lunch break is in addition to a 20 minute break at another point in the day.

So as long as you have at least 20 minutes rest, you can technically skip lunch and go early - if a manager approves it, of course.

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 06/03/2023 22:00

Would be fine in my job and place of work. I doubt anyone would notice

SD1978 · 06/03/2023 22:06

Without it being pre-discussed/ arranged, Joni wouldn't. I'd be honest and clear with them- you didn't have a full lunch break due to meeting times and therefore thought it would be ok, apologise, and ask what their procedure is in this situation, do you get flexitime back or paid. As a once off, and an acknowledgement that you assumes this was ok, I'm sure you'll be fine

Twinedpeaks · 06/03/2023 22:13

SnoopDogisamenace · 06/03/2023 21:16

The reverse of this exact thread was posted last week but I don’t know how to link!

I wouldn't bother. Makes it even more likely this is a windup. Who would start a thread saying 'I did this daft thing I've been told not to do while on probation, oh well it's fine right hah hah'

PuddlesPityParty · 06/03/2023 22:15

30 mins is a normal amount of time for a lunch break - I really don’t understand your thought process ?

Kedece2410 · 06/03/2023 22:16

leaveitnow1244 · 06/03/2023 20:46

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

What on earth possessed you? You realise you've probably jeopardised your job. What a stupid thing to do

maddy68 · 06/03/2023 22:16

Ask your boss if this is acceptable. It wouldn't be in my role

Daftasabroom · 06/03/2023 22:21

I've always been pretty strict ensuring my team take regular breaks and I cannot abide people eating at their desks.

There are legal requirements for screen time, I just wish I could enforce that with DCs.

Daffodilsandbeer · 06/03/2023 22:22

Lol,you’re on probation missed your lunch and so fucked off early`? 😂

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