the bring your own lunch rant

Thriftylady

The 'bring your own lunch to work' discussion crops up quite often, but I just want to have a wee rant about this, as I bet my employers aren't the only ones to do this!

We have a staff canteen, all subsidised by the company, but still not cheap in comparison to bringing your own. But heres whats really annoying. We don't have any other facilities, no staff room, no fridge, no kettle, no microwave, you get the idea. If you want a coffee you have to buy it off them! And if you bring your own lunch (which I do) you are limited to sandwiches, as there is no way of reheating anything.

In a money saving quest, I am now the office laughing stock, because I bring my own teabags, my own milk (after getting charged 35p one day for a splash of milk to pour on some cereal that I'd brought in from home. I could have bought a pint for less!) , and only get hot water from the canteen, and I'm even charged for the water.

We're also not supposed to eat lunch at our desks, forcing us into the canteen, and hey ho, you're only meant to eat stuff in there that you have bought in the place. Not that it stops me ! The day they try to confiscate my packed lunch (sandwiches every day, yawn!!) is the day they'll not know whats hit them.

Evil employers....how would I ever become debt free if I didn't take a stand?!

Broken_hearted

hugs I would use the canteen food because I'm a sheep sorry.

Annie_Fanny

Oh that made me giggle - but it is so true. I used to work in a Regis/Regus (whatever the heck it is called) building and all they had was a canteen and no facilities i.e. microwave. The food and drink was so expensive! I hate it when employers try and take back the money that they pay you - b*stards!

System

Suerly that must break some kind of regulation??

crawley_girl

Oh dear... doesn't sound too great.

Is it worth speaking to someone in HR or union rep to see if something could be sorted?

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

black-saturn

Regarding being limited to sandwiches have you thought about buying a snack pot? They are like a flask only wider and shorter and with a wider lid. You can put anything warm in there and it will keep it hot until lunchtime.

Thriftylady

I know, I was thinking of complaining it was in breach of my human rights !!!

But have a vision of being escorted from the premises and my tea bags, sandwiches, tupperware of milk, yoghurt, banana and tupperware of cereal (I'm not kidding, I actually bring all this to work every day, I like to cover all eventualities, just out of principle!!) being hurled down the street after me!:rotfl:

lynzpower

So obscene the way employers do this, it really is. I wouldnt eat in my works canteen as the quality is so poor, but the prices are cheap ( well ish)

hugs to you a snack pot is a good idea, or some sort of cool bag.

MAybe you sohuld get yourself one of those mini fridges they are selling off everywhere and stash it under your desk. that'll teach em!

newleaf

We don't have a staff room or a canteen, you either eat at your desk- and end up not getting a break because the phone's always ringing - or go out to lunch. We do have a sneaky kettle and microwave in the office (though we aren't supposed to). The fridge we have is 'officially' a pharmacy fridge, and is for the storage of medication but I hope no-one ever comes to check because it's jammed full of packed lunches!

black-saturn

What about if you havn't got a family to cook for eating a canteen meal for your lunch every now and then and then just having a sandwich meal for your evening meal?

edda

I'm with you on this one 100%

How about saying you're on a special diet and have to monitor every single item you eat or drink? (No need to say it's a money saving one!)

Good luck to you and your stance :T