Bosses that don't believe in lunch breaks

[CCrox24]

Ever have a boss that doesn't really take "lunch"? I really value my lunch break, because I need to just relax and eat in order to be productive. Also, I have low blood sugar and it annoys me when my boss just keeps going through 12. Everything is just too fast paced sometimes... and I think if you hurry yourself thru eating it can't be healthy.

I've also noticed that a lot of people around here (corporate) look down on lunch - and I know this one guy who doesn't eat until he gets home at 5 sometimes. :rolleyes:

[Winter Storm]

Though most people do eat lunch here, there are still several people at my job that don't take lunch breaks or eat lunch either. They claim they wait until they get home to eat dinner. :eek: Insane. Who the hell can wait 8-9 hours between meals.

Me onthe other hand, I have to take lunch, everyday at around 11:30 because I'm starving by that point. I don't know how they do it.

[CCrox24]

They claim they wait until they get home to eat dinner. Insane. Who the hell can wait 8-9 hours between meals.

Not only is that unhealthy for a person to do, that is physically impossible for me to do. I get starving by 12. If I don't eat, by 1 or 2 I will faint/be dizzy. :redface:

[SmilesSoSweet]

I make sure I take my full one hour unpaid lunch break. I work 7-5 and take lunch around 12-1.

There may be days when I may not be able to take lunch at noon because I have a deadline, but once I get that stuff done, I make sure I still take a lunch.

And by law, employers have to let you take lunch.

[embrassezla]

my boss doesn't break for lunch and sometimes works on through. we've been working together a few times where he's said, "let's just work through lunch", and unless we are doing something that MUST be done RIGHT THAT SECOND, I always tell him that I need a break (I can get hypoglycemic), and I usually only need about 15mins if I'm in a rush. I don't think there's anything wrong with insisting that you need to break for lunch, as long as you can make it quick under extenuating circumstances.

[Kitty]

Everyone here is huge on lunch breaks. Most people take at least 1.5 hour breaks. I just take 30 minutes and leave at 4:30

[mishl982]

I work through lunch. Personally I'd rather sit at my desk and work while eating in order to leave work by 4 or 430. Once in awhile I do need an actual break just to get away.

[WorkInProgress]

I work through lunch. Personally I'd rather sit at my desk and work while eating in order to leave work by 4 or 430. Once in awhile I do need an actual break just to get away.

This is what I do too.

[MaxPower]

I work to live, not live to work.

[BlueEyedFunOne]

there are still several people at my job that don't take lunch breaks or eat lunch either. They claim they wait until they get home to eat dinner. :eek: Insane. Who the hell can wait 8-9 hours between meals.


If I ever had a job that required this of me, I'd quit on the spot.

I need my lunch break, I too get woozy without food! Although I'm pretty lucky and don't have to punch in & punch out for breaks...I still need to get up from my desk, walk around a bit (sometimes outside!) and sit in the lunch room to eat. I usually read the paper (mostly the comics) or a magazine. When we're really swamped, I can still work at my desk and eat, but this is rare.

[Empressallie]

I think my building encourages people to eat at their desks. We have a small eating area (no cafeteria) that can seat about 20 people and there are 700 people that work here. Granted, we are in downtown Boston, but unless you are buying lunch you cant exactly take your homemade lunch to au bon pain and sit there. I hate eating at my desk, it makes me depressed and my back and ass start to hurt, around, hmmm, NOW. 3:30 is the killer.

My boss rarely take lunch. She usually shovels soup in her mouth around 2:30 betwee phone calls.

[Kitty]

How do people just not eat lunch? That's the meal where I'm actually the most hungry...I get really faint and sick when I don't eat lunch.

[CuranderaC]

How do people just not eat lunch? That's the meal where I'm actually the most hungry...I get really faint and sick when I don't eat lunch.

You don't get a lunch when people are jumping down your throat every 2 minutes and interrupt it anyway.

[yankeeyosh]

It's not work related, but when I was in junior high, we only had about ten minutes to eat...the entire grade had to pile into the auditorium, and wait for the dean of the grade to call their particular class downstairs to the cafeteria. Sometimes it took a good fifteen minutes for him to call down the first class. Then, it took another ten to fifteen minutes to get the food, and we all had to be outside on the basketball courts five minutes before the end of the lunch period. So in the end, we may have had ten minutes to eat. Maybe five on really bad days. Yet I was the only one who complained. Oh well. :neutral:

[Starsailor]

If I ever had a job that required this of me, I'd quit on the spot.

I need my lunch break, I too get woozy without food! Although I'm pretty lucky and don't have to punch in & punch out for breaks...I still need to get up from my desk, walk around a bit (sometimes outside!) and sit in the lunch room to eat. I usually read the paper (mostly the comics) or a magazine. When we're really swamped, I can still work at my desk and eat, but this is rare.
I am the same way if I go too long without food. Used to actually only get hungry every 6-7 hrs or so, but now it's much more frequently. I think I've just managed to speed up my metabolism, but I react pretty badly to going without anything - headache (often quite bad), awful stomach pangs, the lot.

I don't get how it's left up to the state whether or not they want to provide a lunch break at all, no matter how long the work day (correct me if I'm wrong on that matter). My state gov't does not require them for workers above age 18. Ridiculous. Doesn't matter to me if more often than not employers, realizing the importance of it, do give their employees breaks - that should be federally mandated. Also, for workers who are basically made to take their lunch at their desk if they want to eat at all whilst they work, and still have that 30-hr time period taken out of their wages....well, I think it goes without saying.

[Deadend]

I hate stoicists, they can be so f*ing sanctemonious. "I can do with less then you, ergo I'm better / more efficient somehow".

ACTUALLY, I was watching the news the other day, there was a study done by the government of nova scotia that very conclusively found that workers that took as much as a full hour for lunch more then made up for that hour in increased productivity in the afternoon.

Well DUH. It's almost like we're expected to abuse our bodies, not for the sake of work, but just like for the sake of a pissing contest.

If you want your body and mind to preform you've got to do what's healthy. Sitting in a desk for 10 hours and not even eating doesn't qualify. If I had my way office workers would get exercise breaks as well. Don't they do that in Japan?

[SmilesSoSweet]

If you want your body and mind to preform you've got to do what's healthy. Sitting in a desk for 10 hours and not even eating doesn't qualify. If I had my way office workers would get exercise breaks as well. Don't they do that in Japan?

I would so love it if we still had recess while at work for a full 8-10 hours! Can you just imagine that? LOL Or even nap time. I'll take that, too.

Italy and Spain observe siesta in the early afternoon. That would be nice.

[Kitty]

You don't get a lunch when people are jumping down your throat every 2 minutes and interrupt it anyway.

Yeah, that sounds horrible. I could never put myself through that.

[Lookin4Dough]

What industry are you working in? Some industries are definately going to require you to work through lunch and dinner if need be. If this is a competitive field, then you should have probably looked into it more. If it is not and your boss is just an a**hole, then speak up and express how you need a good solid meal in order to work. There is no question that a healthy 30-45 minutes and a healthy lunch keeps you working at you optimum level-especially if you are a health nut.

[LaFille]

when i taught in france, my students and colleagues would be PISSED if they had less than an hour for lunch. it was normally 2 hours. they were shocked that i was willing to schedule classes between 12:30 and 2:30. crazy...

seriously though, here it's almost like a contest to see who can be the most workaholic and be too superhuman for breaks...

[yankeeyosh]

when i taught in france, my students and colleagues would be PISSED if they had less than an hour for lunch. it was normally 2 hours. they were shocked that i was willing to schedule classes between 12:30 and 2:30. crazy...

seriously though, here it's almost like a contest to see who can be the most workaholic and be too superhuman for breaks...

A tale of two countries...

[mishl982]

Italy and Spain observe siesta in the early afternoon. That would be nice.
We need siestas here. Everyone would be more productive and less grumpy!

[CCrox24]

Maybe i should leave the country....

[BlueEyedFunOne]

A tale of two countries...

Indeed it is. And LaFille made a good point.

I spent some time in the Netherlands about a year ago, and during lunchtime on a weekday, the cafes and restaurants would be packed with working people. They'd take leisurely lunches, chat with friends, have tea & wine, enjoy the scenery and basically just RELAX. I got the impression that Europeans value social, family and leisure time much more than busting their balls to climb the corporate ladder.

Here, people scramble out to McD's, stuff a Big Mac in their faces and rush back to work. At least the people here at my work do. Americans are workaholics. It's all about chasing the "American Dream"...and to some, working more/harder/faster/with less breaks means getting ahead.

[CCrox24]

Here, people scramble out to McD's, stuff a Big Mac in their faces and rush back to work. At least the people here at my work do. Americans are workaholics. It's all about chasing the "American Dream"...and to some, working more/harder/faster/with less breaks means getting ahead.

No wonder why we have so many overweight people in this country. And yes, I think people are looked upon as lazy if they take a break and aren't seen as scrambling to get work done through lunch even if they are starving.

It just isn't right...how did we get this way as a society?

[Winter Storm]

No wonder why we have so many overweight people in this country. And yes, I think people are looked upon as lazy if they take a break and aren't seen as scrambling to get work done through lunch even if they are starving.

It just isn't right...how did we get this way as a society?

I think partly because we are a fact-paced, time-oriented society. We're trying to beat the clock at everything, school, career, kids, even vacations. We're also a highly competitive society. If you want a job, a house, a girlfriend or even that new car on the lot, you always have competition trying to beat you to it. So we end up beng these go-go, take no prisoners, workaholics.

I mean look how many people get upset cause they haven't had a girlfriend by _____ amount of time.....haven't gotten married by ___amount of time, haven't had a child by ____ amount of time......haven't bought a house by ____amount of time.

We want it all and we want it NOW!

It least that's my perception.

[CCrox24]

winter storm i think you're dead on.... it's like we just can't accept what we have, we always want more more more.

it's like the guy i saw yesterday driving the hummer h2... anyone who buys a car like that has issues

[red]

my husband used to not eat all day and then eat when he came home from work. he put on a lot of weight pretty quickly. now he doesn't do that anymore.

[winneythepooh7]

I've started to take an hour and just get outside and walk around the city. Even if I eat at my desk and do work at the same time, I notice I feel blah and gain weight if I'm sitting in one spot all day.

[rocket333d]

I worked for a coffee and doughnut shop over two years ago, and they'd only allow you 15 minutes every six hours. You were only allowed to drink hot black coffee and couldn't have any food from outside.

After one day when I came in at 6AM, was not allowed a break, then told at 3:30 I had to stay until 8PM because someone didn't show up. I complained and the boss said "Well, I do this all the time. When you applied, you agreed to this."

So I left.

I have no problem with people deciding to work through their lunch breaks. I only do so if I have a deadline to meet. Even then I make sure I get food. It's just when you come back and those people say, "must be nice to get to stop working for an hour..."

[LaFille]

No wonder why we have so many overweight people in this country. And yes, I think people are looked upon as lazy if they take a break and aren't seen as scrambling to get work done through lunch even if they are starving.



ironic, huh? an overweight nation that doesn't have time to eat. :googly:

[wordsmith]

ironic, huh? an overweight nation that doesn't have time to eat. :googly:

It makes sense. If you don't take time to eat throughout the day, a.) you're probably spending it seated at a desk, b.) you probably don't have the energy you need to exercise properly, and c.) you probably binge late in the day when you're starved and end up overeating when you do eat. Plus, you slow your metabolism by not eating regularly.

[yankeeyosh]

I think partly because we are a fact-paced, time-oriented society. We're trying to beat the clock at everything, school, career, kids, even vacations. We're also a highly competitive society. If you want a job, a house, a girlfriend or even that new car on the lot, you always have competition trying to beat you to it. So we end up beng these go-go, take no prisoners, workaholics.

I mean look how many people get upset cause they haven't had a girlfriend by _____ amount of time.....haven't gotten married by ___amount of time, haven't had a child by ____ amount of time......haven't bought a house by ____amount of time.

We want it all and we want it NOW!

It least that's my perception.

Yes, I agree. But the question was "how" we got there. And I think this goes back to around the late 70s, when the death knell of the industrial economy took place, and we became a service economy. For most of the 20th century, the days of most workers were dictated by the whistle. The whistle started the shift at 9, lunch whistle at 12, back by 1, end of shift at 5. Yeah, there was overtime, and yeah, sometimes lunches were curtailed during "rush periods" or poor economic times, but they were the company's decision...not the employee's. But at the time of the oil crisis, the economy changed, and it became service-oriented...which means offices without whistles. Meanwhile, the Boom, which was more educated than previous generations and more likely to have a college degree, was attracted to these service jobs. Of course, there are government laws that state that a person only has to work X hours, and is required to get an X minute break every X hours, but unlike the past, when the company dictated what a person could do, now it is discretionary and up to the employee him/herself. And since the Boom was the first "individualistic" generation, and the first generation that as a whole, had lofty goals (of course, not nearly as much as our generation), they felt that the more they worked, the happier their bosses will be, and the faster they would rise up the corporate ladder. Gen 'Y' pretty much uses the same general formula, only that as a whole, we expect instant success...or at least success very quickly. So hence, a magical formula for workaholism.

[lonestar]

I have worked at a lot of places, but I have never experienced a place that expected you to forgo your lunch. I have been in places where people eat their lunch in, but still have the option to go out if they wanted...

[BlueEyedFunOne]

you probably binge late in the day when you're starved and end up overeating when you do eat. Plus, you slow your metabolism by not eating regularly.

Agreed - There's a few of us 'grazers' here at work, that survive all day on multiple small meals and snacks. No big lunches, no going hungry and pigging out on dinner. It's worked wonders for eliminating that mid-day slump around 2pm, when everyone is ready for a nap after lunch.

[WorkInProgress]

Agreed - There's a few of us 'grazers' here at work, that survive all day on multiple small meals and snacks. No big lunches, no going hungry and pigging out on dinner. It's worked wonders for eliminating that mid-day slump around 2pm, when everyone is ready for a nap after lunch.

Since I don't generally take a break for lunch, I start lunch between 11 and 12, and usually don't finish eating everything I have, but stop eating around 2 or 3. It works pretty well for me, although I do need to exercise more than I do, like most people.

[wordsmith]

I have worked at a lot of places, but I have never experienced a place that expected you to forgo your lunch. I have been in places where people eat their lunch in, but still have the option to go out if they wanted...

I'll bet some places it's more a pressure thing. They may not outright state you're expected to forego lunch, but if everybody else skips it and you get the raised eyebrows if you take it, some people are going to feel like the implication is that they're not supposed to, either.

[WorkInProgress]

I'll bet some places it's more a pressure thing. They may not outright state you're expected to forego lunch, but if everybody else skips it and you get the raised eyebrows if you take it, some people are going to feel like the implication is that they're not supposed to, either.
You're right...but that whole thing is really stupid. Makes me glad I work where I work.

[winneythepooh7]

I've been in situations at work where I have a really busy morning, am starving, but have to run into meetings. It would definitely not be appropriate to be eating my lunch in these types of meetings. This is rare that this happens though. I think if it's a regular thing, it should be addressed. I would not last long in an environment that would not allow lunch or a pee break.

[wordsmith]

You're right...but that whole thing is really stupid. Makes me glad I work where I work.

Same here. There are those of us who don't really break, eating food we brought or food we go get at our desks, there are those of us who always leave, and we all eat pretty much at random, as there is no set time we take our lunches. I split eating at work and leaving, and I generally do a late lunch, b/c it makes the afternoon (when things drag) shorter.

[SpaceMonkey]

I work in a place where we "technically" are supposed to work 9-5, with an hour lunch, but because of workplace/deadline pressure, I usually work 8:30-5:30 with a 30 minute lunch.

Compounding this is the fact that there are literally dozens of interns around here who could probably do my job for free.

[wordsmith]

Geez, I wish we could get just ONE intern, so I wouldn't have to do all the crap typing on top of my regular job, and would have another pair of eyes for proofreading.

[WorkInProgress]

Geez, I wish we could get just ONE intern, so I wouldn't have to do all the crap typing on top of my regular job, and would have another pair of eyes for proofreading.

Could your paper (or the parents company) maybe try and work something out with the local HS? Because there were a few kids at my high school who had extra credits and either took classes they didn't want or need just to fill up the time, or just came to school late (or left early)?

[wordsmith]

We could. We could also get college kids in the summer (and have been approached about it). Not during the school year, though, because we're at least an hour from any university.

My boss won't agree to it, because he doesn't want to deal with supervising anybody (though I have told him I'd do the supervising). The local HS no longer does a journalism class/student newspaper, due to budget cuts, so there isn't he interest from that camp that there once was, and every college intern hopeful who's approached us expects to be paid, and that's not happening in this company.

[WorkInProgress]

My boss won't agree to it, because he doesn't want to deal with supervising anybody (though I have told him I'd do the supervising).

Ugh. I'm sorry.

The local HS no longer does a journalism class/student newspaper, due to budget cuts, so there isn't he interest from that camp that there once was.

All the more reason...surely some kid who's good at English might want to figure out if this is a job (s)he's like to pursue, since working at the school paper isn't an option?

[wordsmith]

Apathy, apathy, apathy.

Plus, we've had problems with hs kids following through on commitments to us (shockingly!).

[WorkInProgress]

Apathy, apathy, apathy.

Plus, we've had problems with hs kids following through on commitments to us (shockingly!).

Ick. Yeah, shocker.

[g8ergal83]

I had a boss that didnt take lunch breaks. It drove me crazy because they expected you to work right through with them. That's when I used to eat lunch at the "office." Now I go out for lunch at the same time every day, usually around 1:30 or 2pm (even though I work from 9ish to 5) so that my boss knows that that particular time is my lunch break and thats definitely what i'll be doing at that time. (plus, he knows that if I dont eat I get low blood sugar and shaky, even though I'm not a diabetic). It seems that we both take lunch for the same reasons - not only to eat but also to get away and relax for a few minutes. I believe that getting away and relaxing is just as important as the eating part because your job is your job, even if you absolutely love doing it. You still need private time, time to reflect, etc. When I'm learning something new, it's actually best for me to get away and do something else for a while, and then when I come back to it I get it. I just needed some away-time from what I was learning. Everyone needs that. My advice to you is just go out and away from your actual building for lunch, even if you bring what you're going to eat from home. And do it at relatively the same time every day. Everyone will soon catch on that you do take a lunch and you're not in the office. If your boss still doenst understand, have a private chat with him/her and tell them that you need to take lunch at a certain time every day because your body cant handle going without food for however long. Make up that your almost a diabetic or that you are or something, and if they still dont let you, you have stuff against them because you told them that. Even if its a lie, they wont know it. Good luck :)

[GreenwithEnvy]

I need to have food every few hours. I don't know how people go so long without eating.

It is very unhealthy, regardless of what kind of job you have.

Anyway, if I were you, I'd get a doctor's excuse...just hand it to your boss and be like "I have low blood sugar, so I have to eat at this time."
and if he/she has a problem with it, then just say, "and I can't do my work when I have low blood sugar..."
Then see if they let you have a break.

I also think it's illegal not to let people take breaks so...uh...yeah...you're entitled to eat.

[wordsmith]

it's not like you can't eat without taking a break. Are you barred from having food at your desk?

[AngryMomma]

Dudes - like if you work 8 hours it's the law you get a lunch break, end of story. Skipping meals is bad for you anyway. Slows your metabolism and you most likely will end up overeating later.

I don't get in until around 10 or 11 anyway though so I eat lunch around 1 or 2. Somedays I do good get in at 9. :) Not a morning person.... :cool:

[gymgurl]

Dudes - like if you work 8 hours it's the law you get a lunch break, end of story. Skipping meals is bad for you anyway. Slows your metabolism and you most likely will end up overeating later.

I don't get in until around 10 or 11 anyway though so I eat lunch around 1 or 2. Somedays I do good get in at 9. :) Not a morning person.... :cool:

Just curious, what type of job do you do that allows you to get in around 11?

[yaddayadda99]

I haven't taken a "lunch break" in 2 years. I eat at my desk and continue working. I work 8:30-6.

[EricaPurple]

People at my work eat lunch, but eat it at their desks, while they're staring at their computer. I don't like to do this, but it kinda makes me look like a slacker if I don't.

[Fashionista]

Where I work at now everyone takes a break, even if they do not eat on their breaks.

At my old job, which was a small business the boss seemed to frown upon taking a break to eat, so we'd be basically working 8-9 hours straight, just taking bathroom breaks.

Then the bookkeeper noticed that the boss had us working through the breaks and told him that was against the law. So then he started saying we should take a break. Well that lasted all of 2 weeks because after that if you stopped working to eat he would act like you are being lazy. I remember one time I stopped to eat and maybe said 2 words to the person sitting next to me only to have my boss come over and say "What's the matter Fashionista? You don't have enough work to do?" I told him I was taking a small break and he didn't say anything but after that he made me feel bad so i put away my food and kept working.

The only reason why myself and others put up with this BS was because we needed the money. I was in school then and that was the only job I could find. Also because my weekly hours were not guarenteed I couldn't really afford to take a break off the books because I was scared I would be short on the rent.

I don't miss those days at all.....

[wordsmith]

If you work through your lunch hour, you should be able to leave an hour early or come in an hour late.

[spiritedaway]

I can skip through lunch and not feel hungry, but I really hate sitting at my desk and working through lunch.

Unless I am really, really busy and close to some critical deadline, I am going to take my lunch break period, even if I am just going out to run some errands or take a walk. It's my way of replenishing my energy.

[AngryMomma]

I'm a software engineer. We have flex-time. I work my 8 hours however I see fit basically. Although 11 is pushing it, even at my work :)

[CTGirl]

Dudes - like if you work 8 hours it's the law you get a lunch break, end of story. Skipping meals is bad for you anyway. Slows your metabolism and you most likely will end up overeating later.

I don't get in until around 10 or 11 anyway though so I eat lunch around 1 or 2. Somedays I do good get in at 9. :) Not a morning person.... :cool:

Very true, but sadly many emplyers dont follow that and look poorly on people who actually use their breaks.

In my company, no one really takes lunch breaks much, we usually eat at our desks, but we come and go as we please, and many people take gym breaks actually.

[NitaCircle]

You made my day with this post. i'm laughing my head off :D
At my job it's only 30 min, all my other jobs were one hour. But I make sure I always take it. And whether you take it or not, it's deducted from your pay check. Free time to company NO WAY :heehee:
I think my building encourages people to eat at their desks. We have a small eating area (no cafeteria) that can seat about 20 people and there are 700 people that work here. Granted, we are in downtown Boston, but unless you are buying lunch you cant exactly take your homemade lunch to au bon pain and sit there. I hate eating at my desk, it makes me depressed and my back and ass start to hurt, around, hmmm, NOW. 3:30 is the killer.

My boss rarely take lunch. She usually shovels soup in her mouth around 2:30 betwee phone calls.

[Tiff58]

Everyone here is huge on lunch breaks. Most people take at least 1.5 hour breaks. I just take 30 minutes and leave at 4:30

That's most people where I work...and they also leave at 4:30 :haha:

[awhitmer83]

Sometimes I work through lunch, especially if I come in late or need to leave early. Since I'm on salary and we have flex time, I refuse to work more than 40 hours a week unless I absolutely have to - if I work an hour extra one day, I might take an extra hour for lunch another day. Usually, I take lunch for as long as I want and no one bats an eye. I also leave to run errands any time I feel like it. Of course, my boss leaves during the day for her Botox injections and hair appointments, so I guess that's why she doesn't care.

At my last job, we ate in the cafeteria every day, but I was expected to keep my work cell phone with me. I usually got down about 3 bites before someone called and needed something. Eventually, I gave up eating and using the bathroom altogether.