Phone ringing during lunch break!

LittleMax

AP007 wrote: »

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

It depends on the type of work being undertaken. As I say an office is deemed a suitable place to eat so no restroom required, which is why many office buildings don't have restrooms. But this is a factory.

Evilm

spacey2012 wrote: »

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

Not unless it takes you down to below minimum wage. Especially if you are salaried and not hourly.

persa

spacey2012 wrote: »

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

Actually, that's a standard clause in many contracts, mine included!

If I'm there, I answer the phone.

davenport151

As somone has already mentioned is it possibly you can take your lunch 1/2 hour earlier or later with the proviso the phone is answered by someone else in this time? Saying you are happy to do this just not in your break. That way if its fine you can go for a walk if not you can just ignore it (and make it clear that is what you'll do).
I

bodmil

persa wrote: »

Actually, that's a standard clause in many contracts, mine included!

If I'm there, I answer the phone.

Yep seems daft not too or you'd get some wally downing tools mid-meeting or demanding an extra 5 minutes worth of pay for having to finish up a phone call.

AP007

persa wrote: »

Actually, that's a standard clause in many contracts, mine included!

If I'm there, I answer the phone.

Depending on what you do the call could take 2 or 20 mins or longer. Then what?

In my old job if I picked up the phone I would then be talking to a supplier who would be asking something then Id have to investigate and then the call goes on and on.

bodmil

AP007 wrote: »

Depending on what you do the call could take 2 or 20 mins or longer. Then what?

In my old job if I picked up the phone I would then be talking to a supplier who would be asking something then Id have to investigate and then the call goes on and on.

Then you do your job for 20 extra minutes, it's not the end of the world and could impress bosses.

Valli

snuggle69 wrote: »

Exactly the same in our office, but it doesnt bother me. Its all down to give and take if I do little things like that in my lunchbreak then if I ever need to leave early or take my son to the hospital its never an issue. I cant honestly see what the big issue is with it to be honest but if it bothers you that much if you have a car then go and sit in that no one makes you sit in the office.

And YES this is in an unpaid break. This day and age we are all lucky to have jobs

But this doesn't give those for whom we work carte blanche to work us however they wish.

OP Go for the split lunchtime suggestion.
Or a walk in the fresh air;)

AP007

bodmil wrote: »

Then you do your job for 20 extra minutes, it's not the end of the world and could impress bosses.

Every day it could happen and no it never impresses any boss as they assume you are NOT at lunch - also when there are people who sit there NOT on lunch and ignore the phone.

Snowball1

I always answer the phone or emails on my unpaid lunch break, also deal with queries from the States after my finish time unpaid, don't think twice about doing it.