Phone ringing during lunch break!

ILW

I would start worrying when the phone stops ringing.

LittleMax

hartcjhart wrote: »

so where do the production staff go for their tea breaks??

This is a key question as suitable facilities have to be provided under Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations. A desk in an office is usually deemed suitable, however depending on what the factory does, for other employees generally a rest room should be provided. So can't you go and sit in there?

hartcjhart

LittleMax wrote: »

This is a key question as suitable facilities have to be provided under Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations. A desk in an office is usually deemed suitable, however depending on what the factory does, for other employees generally a rest room should be provided. So can't you go and sit in there?

my point exactly

dandelionclock30

Cut your sandwiches into quarters and eat them as you walk round. You need to get out of the office for a breath of fresh air.

Daisy70

Go for a walk at lunchtime and eat your sandwiches when you get back, no rule to say you can't eat during work time is there?

I ignore my phone at lunchtime but the calls I get usually are from people who want to go on and on for hours.

DCFC79

Yes I started to ignore the phone on the bench behind me (normal person who was at the bench wouldnt be in), Ignoring it went so far until it annoyed me constantly rining that I would answer it.

Almo

snuggle69 wrote: »

This day and age we are all lucky to have jobs

Sorry, but leaving aside the OP's actual issue, this is something which really bugs me. Yes, people are lucky to have jobs (I don't have one, and I'm looking) but that doesn't mean that they can't ever complain. At what point does an issue become worthy of complaint? Or will there never be a point until the financial crisis is over?

OP, I think for me it would depend on what kind of job this is, and at what level. In my most recent job, I could and often did leave the office at lunch but equally often sat at my desk for some or all of my 'lunch break' (technically an hour, almost never took the full hour or anything close). I'd always get my phone if it rang and if it was a busy period would just keep working. I was well paid though, and it was a 'professional' job, with promotion prospects. As someone else mentioned, this flexibility was offset by the fact that my boss never cared if we had to leave early/come in late for dentist/doctor/tradespeople or even pop out to the post office while it was quiet mid afternoon.

If there is no flexibility around the time you arrive/leave etc then I'd be less happy about answering the phone. Something no one has addressed as far as I can see is also how often you're on the phone during lunch, and for how long. If it's a couple of 1 minute calls a week I don't see a problem, if it's a few 5 minute calls a day then that's quite different.

spacey2012

bodmil wrote: »

I am required to work unpaid overtime as necessary to fulfill my duties.

Not By law you are not.
The boss is breaking the law by not paying for all time worked.

ILW

spacey2012 wrote: »

Not By law you are not.
The boss is breaking the law by not paying for all time worked.

Depends if you "volunteer" or not.

AP007

LittleMax wrote: »

This is a key question as suitable facilities have to be provided under Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations. A desk in an office is usually deemed suitable, however depending on what the factory does, for other employees generally a rest room should be provided. So can't you go and sit in there?

I thought providing a place to eat or for breaks had stopped years ago.