Should I have taken a lunch break - it feels like slavery 🤦🏾‍♀️🙄

[whatthefisthisshit]

I work in an office where my role involves taking calls, processing documents, and responding to emails all at the same time. Yesterday was particularly full-on — I was on the phone taking calls non-stop from 10am to 1:30pm, back to back, without a real pause. By the time I finished, I was mentally drained, my mouth was dry, and I just needed a short break to reset.

Towards the end of that run of calls, I picked up a new task that involved three separate emails, each with around 100 pages of bank statements, all sent as individual images instead of PDFs. I had to upload each one manually and go through the statements to record most of the transactions, which took ages.

I completed the first email and decided to take my lunch break before starting the second batch. I told my colleagues I was stepping away for lunch, but one of them said I shouldn’t leave since I’d already started. I explained I’d finished the first batch but needed a breather before continuing, and he just smirked. To be fair, an old manager once said we should always finish a task before leaving it — but this one was exhausting.

I went for my lunch anyway, but now I’m wondering if I was in the wrong. I honestly felt burnt out and thought it was better to take a short break than push through and risk making mistakes.

So, AIBU for taking my lunch break before finishing the rest of the task?

You need to take breaks or you'll burn out and get ill. No one else is going to come and tell you to take one. Please look after yourself!

Thanks

Just to add the colleagues that told me I could not leave the task uncompleted is sort of a spy and I know he would have messaged the manger to let him know and while on break I was already preparing my reply to him to shut him up

You took a break because you wanted to do the job properly / you finished a batch so there was no chance of mistakes and misordering - so you could think you subdividing the task into smaller ones

I don’t think it is anything like slavery! But you should take breaks

From the gov.uk site on this
Rest breaks at workWorkers have the right to one uninterrupted 20 minute rest break during their working day, if they work more than 6 hours a day. This could be a tea or lunch break.The break doesn’t have to be paid - it depends on their employment contract.Also:Employers can say when employees take rest breaks during work time as long as:

• the break is taken in one go somewhere in the middle of the day (not at the beginning or end)
• workers are allowed to spend it away from their desk or workstation (ie away from where they actually work)

It doesn’t count as a rest break if an employer says an employee should go back to work before their break is finished.

There are exceptions but for armed forces, emergency services type jobs. You needed a break and you took it. Totally within your rights. If there is no clear rule otherwise then you choose when you take the break.

unless your boss owns you and doesn’t pay you for your job it’s nothing like slavery.

you worked, you took your lunch break. In no way are you a slave.

Not sure you understand what slavery is, presumably you are remunerated and free to leave when your work is done?

perhaps I should not have used the word slave but what was trying to say is it is ridiculous that the colleague is saying not to leave for a break until the task is finished even though I said I needed a break when he was aware how tedious the task was and me on the phone for hours taking calls.

Using tge word “slavery” is incredibly offensive.

Using the word slavery is not acceptable. Why does it matter what a colleague says? Surely you have a manager?

The only thing you could maybe have done differently was to take your break before starting the new task but I don’t think it really matters

The colleague is not your boss.

If boss challenges, say you nearly made a mistake, so took a short break so you could give it your full concentration when you returned.

You may also want to ask at your next 1-2-1 if the snitch has line manager duties over you, as the boundaries appear to be blurred.

Why do you care what your colleague does or says? So what.
You wanted a break so you took it, no idea why a boss would bring this up.

I'd have taken the break before starting the task

This is such a non-issue about a very minor & inconsequential work decision, commented on by a colleague (inconsequential). Why are you giving it any headspace at all??
Do you regularly have such life or death decisions to make at work as when to have your lunch?

Edit to add - I cannot believe you likened sending emails / being asked to delay a sandwich to SLAVERY.

Better to take a break so you can finish the task properly afterwards.

Once I'm frazzled I make mistakes anyway. If it's not my lunch then I change tasks for a bit, make a cup of tea etc

It's always good to either have a bland comeback or a witty one in these circumstances. "Need to take a break and come back fresher." or "Trust me, you'd don't want to see me hangry, Office Snitch." tinkly laugh and leave. Would not be consulting with colleagues on when I needed a break if it didn't affect their work flow or breaks.

Hang on- it wasn’t your boss who said that but your colleague? Oh,ffs!

I think some people have taken what I said out of context. I used the word slavery to describe how trapped and overworked I’ve been feeling — not to make light of history. As a Black person, I’m obviously aware of the weight that word carries. I just meant that I’ve been running on empty and it’s felt like I haven’t had any control or rest.

And to those asking why I care or pointing out that he’s not my boss — this isn’t coming out of nowhere. There’s a bit of a background to it, as he’s basically a spy for the manager, which makes the whole situation more stressful.

I think it was reasonable to take a break. Your colleague shouldn't be commenting. Some workplaces don't care about youf welfare. You need to in that case.

Do you have proper check ins with your manager? I would pre empt the snitcher and raise it. There is no way a decent manager will tell someone who is exhausted and hungry and needs their break they they should carry on. Except in an absolute time critical crisis.

YANBU. Any job I've ever had I had an allocated lunch break time and at that time I left the office, whether I was in the middle of a task or not.

Even a boss eould be on dodgy ground telling u not to have a break. Sometimes though I think.we are our own worse enemies.

Yeah the slavery reference is a bit ....