Manager insisting I take lunch

[Shanna8]

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice. I am PA to the CEO of a large organisation. I work in a solo capacity, no team or colleagues to have lunch with. This suits me fine. Our canteen is very busy, noisy and full of fellow co-workers who lunch together every day e.g. Finance colleagues sit at one table, HR colleagues sit at another table etc. The CEO sits with other Executive members. It's a bit clicky tbh ... but not having someone to have lunch with does not bother me in the slightest. I take lunch in my office, which I prefer. I tend to eat while working as I'm very busy and would prefer to work through and get home at a reasonable time. My Manager (CEO) has raised this with me on 3 occasions in recent weeks i.e. you really need to start taking lunch, you should not be working while having lunch etc. Yesterday she made another comment and I now feel pressurised and upset. I have told her previously (jokingly) that I have an aversion to the canteen, that I cannot stand it! There are other "solo" workers who also take lunch in their office and yet they are not being targeted. I could approach one of these colleagues for company at lunch time but I don't want to do this. It will result in me being tied to this arrangement every day, having to go to lunch when I don't want to/have something urgent on. There is no-where else to go for lunch except my car. I feel upset and resentful that I will be forced to sit in my car every day when I would prefer to keep working. I am now wondering why my Manager is insisting on this? Is it a duty of care / HR issue? Is she fearful I will take sick leave and cite being over-worked with no breaks? Is there any solution? Should I talk to her? AIBU???

It’s duty of care - you are Legally required to have a break after working x hours, and also setting the tone from the top for the rest of the organisation. If it is perceived that the CEOs PA has to work through lunch (even if it’s your choice) it’s not a good culture for the rest of the organisation putting pressure on others to do similar and you are unconsciously enabling that culture to be created.

Personally I don’t think its a good look if someone walks into the senior’s office and are greeted by the PA with a mouthful of crisps or sandwich.

It’s also unhealthy to work through your lunch every day - it’s much better to get away from your desk and screen , even if it’s a walk around the block.

Your manager is trying to avoid you making the business break the law.

Don't go and sit and the canteen if you don't want to. But do take the break.

Can't you take a book to the canteen? We have a canteen where most people eat lunch (either their own or bought at the canteen) and we are encouraged not to eat at our desks.

Sometimes people sit in groups and sometime on their own. If you are on your own it is considered polite for a group to ask if you mind them joining you. No one takes offence if you would rather read.

I am currently sitting on my own in our canteen as I want to get a few personal bits of admin done on my phone. It's fine.

You have the right to a break. There is no law being broken if you do not take it as long as they are ensuring you have the opportunity.

Poss question re H&S if for e.g
you go off with stress but as long as they can evidence they have encouraged you and you have the opportunity to take they have no liability (99% certain unless there's case law I've missed)

Are you allowed to use Internet for personal use? Could say you're catching up on life admin sometimes?

Key legislation wording is "entitled to a break", note it does not say "you must"

20 minutes is the minimum after six hours.

Maybe she doesn't like the smell of food lingering in the office.

Duty of care so you are being unreasonable.

Thanks everyone. I am taking all your comments and advice on board and understand that from the employer's perspective, I am being unreasonable on this. I will make adjustments/other arrangements for lunch.

But that’s almost like snooping working on your lunch break! Plus, OP doesn’t enjoy it so it’s irrelevant that you did.

@Shanna8 - I had a desk job once where one of the team (same grade) would go round offices at lunchtime forcing people to go to the staff room! It was an academic post and I very much kept my own diary so it drove me nuts - if I want to eat at my desk, I will! I also rarely took time away from work as spent lunch catching up with emails etc. (but see my point below).

Agree with others that you need to speak directly to your boss to find a solution. She is obliged to make sure you have a break and if you were to say go off with stress, not having a lunch break could be seen as a factor.

Maybe she’d be happy with something like you take your break in the office but put a notice on your door saying “at lunch, will return at X time” or something like that so it is transparent that you are taking your legal break. I get what you mean though about preferring to work through and get the work done - I felt like that too and it contributed to me developing acute stress and a drinking problem as it’s not sustainable.

@megifer yes you are right that there’s no law saying an employee ‘must’ take a break but with the OP regularly working over her hours and over weekends, even with the company advising her to take breaks, this could be seen as not enabling her to take breaks due to workload. Being too busy amounts to a failure on the employer’s part to enable the employee to exercise their right to a break. There are tribunal outcomes relating to this.

I'm gobsmacked by the responses to this. I'd be furious if my manager tried to tell me how to manage my work day. It's infantilising bullshit imo.

I insisted that everyone i line managed took their lunch. Also i don't want to nurture a culture of desk eating. Proper well rested staff work better and are more productive. You can always take that time to go for a walk if you prefer but take a break you must

Just say you are comfortable eating alone at your desk, and you will try and slow down or stop work for half an hour if possible, but sometimes it's easier to work through.
I think she wants reassurance you are not feeling sidelined or overworked. Maybe do try and go for a walk or something on some days, when the weather is nice, just for 15 mins. It probably will help break up the day.

Sorry to be blunt. But you are a mug if you are working extra hours for no extra recognition or pay and don’t take your entitled break.

it actually indicates you are struggling - or can be perceived that way.

just go for a walk

The workloads would only be a poss issue if op raises it as one.

A lot of people just love their job and being busy. My job doesnt end, ops job may be the same and she just enjoys it.

This. Ask (gently) what it is that she has the issue with.

If you can’t take a break for lunch and regularly work over your hours I think your workload needs looking at. Occasionally being mega busy and going the extra mile is one thing but when it becomes standard there is a problem.

Are you able to take your holiday entitlement?

As someone who has cleaned offices please don’t eat at your desk. No one ever thinks they are messy but they are. Crumbs and sticky bits, contaminating paper bins with apple cores and food wrappers.

A break is mandatory after 6 hours, I think it just needs to be 20 minutes though so just go find somewhere else to eat.

Hardly snooping. Just getting to know your colleagues.

"Employee, did your employer encourage you to take breaks"

"Yes"

"Did you ever raise a concern regarding workloads or hours worked?"

"No

"were you forced to work extra hours?"

"no"

"OK, tribunal finds in employers favour and awards costs"

Is how a tribunal would go in this instance.

Infact, it wouldn't get to a tribunal tbh.

You should be able to do your job in your contractual hours. This toadying culture of working over your hours and giving the company free labour creates a sweatshop precedent for everyone and as a colleague I would not thank you for it either.

Counterintuitively, taking regular breaks actually makes people more effective and it helps well-being. It’s a win win.

I don't think that's what's happening- her boss is just trying to encourage her to take the breaks she is legally entitled to (and should honestly take for her own wellbeing).

I'm literally having a lovely lunch break at my desk eating my home made salad and catching up on MN and the news. I would hate to be forced to go and sit on a bench or barge into someone's table in a noisy canteen. After a morning of solid meetings I'm enjoying having my headphones off and time to myself.

PP is correct you are entitled to a break but they cannot tell you how to spend it. It's not like you are working in a factory or shop where breaks are formally scheduled.

We do not allow staff to work through lunch,or if they do they can’t take it off their working hours