Do you actually take your lunch break?

[guild]

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.

Public sector. It depends how busy I am- usually I just have a sandwich at my desk but on the odd day when I have time to take a break, I do so. I think having a proper break is good for you and can make you more productive. I also work on a screen all day so I like to give my eyes a rest when I can.

Always! I work two 5 hours days where I chose not to have a break and 2 slightly longer days where I have 30 mins unpaid. I always go for a walk to get some fresh air.

Private sector

Not always but we may go for breakfast or coffee, or stop and chat. We have quite a relaxed atmosphere so I may grab a sandwich eat at my desk whilst chatting to my boss about work or just general chit chat(usually the only time he isn't in meetings) but won't be glued to my laptop so it's a break.

At home I try to so I'll always go out for a walk or pop to the shop or more recently a late lunch break trip to the gym.

Nope. Also work in Education and line manage. There's always something that needs doing or someone that needs you.

Yes I always take it. I think it is a really unhealthy culture in these workplaces where people are encouraged to work through their lunch. You are legally entitled to a break.

We're supposed to get an hour unpaid but when you're the only person working who can do lots of the jobs then there's no chance of taking it. I'm in retail.

Yes. Unpaid. Not allowed to eat at desk and also eyes badly need a break from the screen.

I always do and make sure my staff do too.

Unpaid and SLT always make sure we get our 30 minutes.

If I'm luck I eat at desk while fielding problems and checking results. If busy I am running about through it.
HCP

There are lots of martyrs around me at work who don't take a break but I need it. Not often the full hour, and occasionally I'll miss it as I'm busy, but I make a point of taking at least 30 minutes to eat properly and go for a walk. My health and sanity is more important than the job.

This

Technically it's unpaid but I know very few people who take it every day, certainly not the full hour, when in the office. Especially in winter, since there's nowhere to go, only a very small coffee shop, we've no real option but to eat at desks and if you're on something other than work whilst sitting there, even if it's obvious you're eating, you get side eyes so you just crack on usually. At home I do usually though.

I come into work a bit later to avoid the packed trains (and sick people coughing), don't take lunch and go home just around 5 pm.

Always and so do all my colleagues, its unpaid and our hours are fully flexible so if you take longer you stay later. Private sector, not public facing so it doesn't matter if we all stop at once. Its nice sitting having lunch with the others (we are fully office based, no WFH) or popping into town or just for a walk or to get petrol etc.

Yes. I need to get outside and reset in order to have a productive afternoon.

always, half an hour
unpaid, nhs,
go outside

Sometimes my husband and I slope off to the pub on a Friday lunchtime, but other than that, I never take a lunch break.

My organisation loves a lunchtime meeting, so I’ll usually have about 3 of those in an average week.

I rarely take a formal lunch-break (mine is unpaid, minimum 30 mins but can be longer if we want, we just start or finish earlier or later).

I do make sure to take some time to reset - a quick walk, a cup of tea, a few minutes away from my desk to think.

The reason I don't take a full lunch break is that I'm busy, but also I often fit in some personal admin or calls throughout the day (single parent, recently going through a divorce, so there's been quite a bit of this) and I'm always conscious of making sure I fully attend to my work. I do work longer hours than I should, overall.

I work usually 2 days from home. Those days are different as I'll often take breaks for collecting kids or putting on the dinner - I still do my full day's work & more, just spread out over a longer day.

I do miss having someone to go for lunch with though. That's another part of the reason I don't take a break. I manage a team; plenty of people I'm very collegial with but don't have anyone at my level who I'd see as a friend in that sense.

30 minutes unpaid, rarely take it, but that means if I come in 15 minutes later or want to leave 15 early, or take 45 minutes to go to the handwriting workshop at DS' school I can and do and no one bats an eyelid

Very rarely if I'm on site, usually if it's a WFH day. Though I often feel guilty for it. Our canteen (which is for both staff and patients) is tiny, ten minutes walk away, and very expensive (or "Staff restaurant" as the HR staff experience and well being team insist we call it - not enough actual staff but there's a staff experience and well being team who I will always struggle to take seriously as long as they/I work there).

Besides which there is nowhere to actually take your lunch unless you sit at your desk, find a spare corner in one of the store cupboards, stand in the catering kitchen at the back, or hope that the tiny break room without running water or a water heater isn't being used as a meeting room as there aren't enough of those either. It's all right in summer as there are some quite nice benches around the grounds but if it's cold or raining it's utterly pants.

This is in the north of England, in a region not exactly known for its dry warm weather. Staff have complained many times including on staff surveys and in forums. The senior managers don't care.

Salaried so it's neither paid or unpaid really.

Some days yes, some days no. Depends what is going on. Very rarely take the full hour though.

My staff are unpaid and I ensure they take their lunch hour. If they pick up the phone 2 minutes before they're due to eat, I ensure they tack the time on the end! The boss also endorses this.

It's still one of the other!

I'm on a monthly salary too - my contract stipulates a set number of hours per day, which includes a teabreak (so paid) but not lunch (so unpaid).

I get what you mean in that it doesn't matter if I take it or not as the salary paid is the same; but it is important to note it's unpaid.

Unpaid and always try and get out for a walk, even just 15 minutes. I usually bring lunch in on the days I work on site, but not a drink so I have to walk to the shops to get one. Once I’m back at my desk I will happily reply to emails while eating but mainly potter around the internet.