Where do you eat your lunch at work if no staff room and raining?

[pancakescone]

I started a new job over the summer. In previous jobs we've had a staff room with tables and sofas so room for staff to sit and eat their lunch/have their break if they want to. My current job has a small kitchen with only about four seats for an office floor of at least 25-30 people. When the weather was better I sat on a bench in a nearby grassy area to eat my lunch.

If you don't want to sit at your desk at lunchtime, where do you go to eat your lunch if it's raining/snowing/freezing outside?

We have a small kitchen seating area but I eat at my desk as I prefer that.

Welfare approved code of practice and HSE guidance makes it clear that there needs to be somewhere to rest, heat food and water and eat meals as well as adequate toilet and wash facilities. It's part of the basic standards for any workplace. This is not new although HSE have been pushing it more recently given their focus on wellbeing.

I reckon the OP's employer is pushing it having 4 seats at a single table for 30 or so people, but I suppose they have some.

I think the guidance says "so far as is reasonably practicable", though.

So presumably if there is simply not enough physical space to provide a space to sit and eat, then they don't have to.

I've worked a few shifts in a small shop within a main train station . There was no-where to store/heat/sit and eat food. The toilet was also several minutes walk away in the station. I would have hated to work there permanently as I think I would have spent a lot of money on food and drinks in cafes to guarantee somewhere warm to sit down on lunchbreaks in winter time.

I always eat my lunch at my desk

Usually at my desk. I've been working for the NHS for 25 years now and unless there's a canteen on site, can count on one hand the amount of staff rooms available. Majority of the time I've sat at my desk. Am in a clinically facing role. Wards sometimes have a rest area, but tiny and used as storage too! Might have a chair or 2 in if you're lucky!

Desk, everyone always has where I work. NHS, we work through lunch that is not a paid lunch hour, only way to cope. Some may take a quick walk.

I go to my car. I actually prefer it. Privacy, alone time, away from office.

Or on-site canteen if there is one.

Somewhere outdoors if it's summer.

Al desko obviously

Car

Me too. I loved it. Recharge my batteries without having to people. I put my music on too.

At my desk. There’s nowhere else. the canteen is 10 minutes walk away, across a busy road. Not appealing in the crap weather, and as we only get half an hour for lunch, leaving my desk would mean I realistically get 10 minutes for lunch, allowing for the the walk there and back.🤷🏻‍♀️

Go to the nearest library and sit in there, working in Birmingham the library is lovely

Can't believe all the car eating fans this time of year. Mine is freezing and takes ages to warm up, plus not very environmentally friendly or cheap!

Eat at your desk and then go for a walk / browse the local shops / go and sit in a bookshop. That way you get to eat in the warm and you still get your break time.

Desk

We do have a little area to sit, not a staff room but some tables. I always eat my sandwich at my desk

I’d take one of the seats in the kitchen and maybe eat my lunch a bit later to avoid peak times of busyness in the kitchen.

I used to go for a walk unless really raining, then I would sit in the car, which is okay if you drive to work...... If no where else to go I would prob sit at desk, but turn the phone off, lock the screen and if needed put a sign up saying on break so people don't disturb you, maybe even put headphones on to zone out a bit....

I’d personally eat at my desk then go for a walk outside. Or if you really want to get away drive to a nearby carpark and eat in your car (used to do this in my retail job when I just wanted to be away from people lol). But should raise that with your manager because lots of others are probably thinking the same thing.

Desk, or the toilets. Not as bad as it sounds as each one is like a mini-bathroom with own sink and is a blessing in an otherwise open plan office.