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Original poster

Do you actually take your lunch break?

127 replies

guild · 20/10/2023 13:57

I'm curious if people actually take their lunch break. Do you take yours? Is it paid or unpaid? And what sector do you work in?

Me: I don't. It's paid. I work in education. Tend to get so caught up I just sort of miss it and eat at desk.

OP posts:
TantalisingCantaloupe · 20/10/2023 16:26

I'm a TA. I officially get 30 minutes paid, but have only taken that full break once since May (I recently worked out...). Generally, I take 5 to 10 minutes to wee and drink a coffee in silence, but a few times a week, even that doesn't happen.

On the plus side, I have also lost 2 stone since May (when I started here), due to not being able to eat or drink in the working day...

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 20/10/2023 16:28

I'm a teacher. We get an hour at my school. I take half my lunch break and work through the rest. I run an extra-curricular club in one of my lunchtimes. It's non-directed time, so we can't be told to do anything in the lunch break. We can go off-site if we want, but hardly anyone does because we've all got too much to do!

Wafflethedoggy · 20/10/2023 16:28

I don’t get a lunch break. I eat as and when I can throughout the day.

greengreengrass25 · 20/10/2023 16:30

TantalisingCantaloupe · 20/10/2023 16:26

I'm a TA. I officially get 30 minutes paid, but have only taken that full break once since May (I recently worked out...). Generally, I take 5 to 10 minutes to wee and drink a coffee in silence, but a few times a week, even that doesn't happen.

On the plus side, I have also lost 2 stone since May (when I started here), due to not being able to eat or drink in the working day...

Aren't you hungry though

I get hangry if I don't have lunch

megletthesecond · 20/10/2023 16:30

Unpaid 30 mins in an office. I always take it rain or shine or snow.
Quick walk around the park or to the nearby waitrose. I work better after a break. And I like to see the ducks.

egowise · 20/10/2023 16:32

Always. 1 hour half paid. Higher education setting.

Bellabluea · 20/10/2023 16:32

Yes. 30 minutes paid and 30 unpaid split between a small break and lunch.
Work in a hospital and I need it. I’m 10 years there’s only been three occasions when I didn’t and that was when the shit hit the fan and I didn’t feel comfortable leaving.

Cowlover89 · 20/10/2023 16:38

Always and paid

Thethruththewholetruth · 20/10/2023 16:42

Unpaid NHS staff, never used to take it but now there is no way I wouldn’t over the past few years, no one thanks you for not taking it. If I need more hours to do my job they will have to start paying me now, can’t be arsed to kill my self for a job

AllWeWantToDo · 20/10/2023 16:46

20 mins unpaid, it comes off our flexitime automatically so I always take it

LubaLuca · 20/10/2023 16:51

Yes, I take a full hour every day. There's no expectation to do anything more than contracted hours at any level, which I realise is not standard. I previously worked for a huge American corporation where there was a horrible culture of celebrating those who flogged themselves working longer and longer hours.

Pamcakey · 20/10/2023 16:52

I get paid for my breaks. As such, the culture in my sector is that you don’t take them.

If I’m having a quiet day, I may pop out for a 20 minute walk or will head out to grab some food. Might play on my phone when I’m actually eating.

We are entitled to take a 45 minute break but I don’t know anyone who does.

BashfulClam · 20/10/2023 18:11

It’s unpaid so I take it and we are encouraged to do so. I don’t work for free.

terriblyangryattimes · 20/10/2023 18:12

I get 30 mins unpaid and I do not take it, which is ridiculous I know. But it does make me feel better when we have a quiet day and I end up doing something that isn't strictly work...
Civil servant

wellthatwentwelldinnit · 20/10/2023 18:13

Always. 30 mins unpaid. Civil service.

CesareBorgia · 20/10/2023 18:15

It's unpaid and I usually take it, unless something hugely urgent is happening. I work better in the afternoons if I've had a short break.

sekift · 20/10/2023 18:23

Yes, I work flexi and from home. I tend to go for a walk and then grab something to eat at my desk. If I didn't I wouldn't move at all during the day!

trader21c · 20/10/2023 18:38

Rarely and it’s unpaid - free labour

chipshopElvis · 20/10/2023 18:38

Unpaid and I rarely take it, but this post makes me think I really should!

Schmusimausi73 · 20/10/2023 18:42

I do, most definitely. It[s 50 minutes unpaid. I[m a teacher as well.

sixtiesbaby88 · 20/10/2023 19:06

I always do. I'm a teacher and I either work marking books at lunch or I'll have to add it to my work to do after school - no contest really

qwerty123454 · 20/10/2023 19:08

Yes

Every single day

One hour unpaid

If customers turn up they have to wait as they have been informed in advance

I'm not working for free!

Memberofstaff · 20/10/2023 19:20

You shouldn't be working for nothing! The company you work will be getting rich from all the people who don't take what they're entitled to.

And if it's education/NHS then you should make the case for overtime if you have to work through it

overand · 20/10/2023 19:21

Always. I work 10 hour shifts on very low pay. My 30 minute break isn't paid, so there's no way I'm working through it.

Overthebow · 20/10/2023 19:26

Unpaid and we can have a long as we like, around meetings, but that just means pushing actual work back so in reality I take a short lunch break then get on with the work. If there’s lunchtime meetings or very busy days I don’t take it.