Phone ringing during lunch break!

skintandscared_2

MothballsWallet wrote: »

So, when you go to the loo, you should take the work phone with you?

That's really unhygienic...

Don't be so stupid. A section is never left unmanned by everyone at the same time. We always make sure someone is there. Or a phone transferred to a manned desk.

evenasus

Back in the day, before I retired...

It was lunchtime and I was sitting at my desk eating my sandwich.
My phone went, I gave a loud sigh and put my sandwich down ready to answer the darn thing.
Just at that moment, the director of the company walked by, (open plan office) looked at me, smiled and said "Don't answer it, your'e at lunch".

gibson123

I think this is totally unacceptable, BUT only because the customer who is trying to get through is not getting a decent service!

Either some-one is reluctantly answering, answering with a mouthful of lunch or not answering at all! And it's lunch-time which is often the busiest time for calls, as customers on THEIR lunch breaks are calling.

I think I would be approaching the boss with a suggestion for improving customer service / sales by ensuring staggered lunch breaks and adequate cover.

liney

I used to answer the phone during lunch, until I had a sarky comment from my Manager about receiving a personal call 5 mins after lunch when I had spent a good amount of it 'at work,' on the phone.

After that I used to move desk, or leave the office when I was 'on lunch' ensuring my time was mine and theirs was theirs.

I think it depends on the culture at work. If it's give and take, fine. If it's all one sided then ensure you get your break by going out for a walk.

ditzyat50

liney wrote: »

I think it depends on the culture at work. If it's give and take, fine. If it's all one sided then ensure you get your break by going out for a walk.

I totally agree with this. I have issues with being taken for granted so with one of my part time jobs I make sure I have my walking shoes on! It's minimum wage, not guaranteed finishing on time, sometimes going to post office with recorded deliveries on way home. So they're definitely not having my lunch break off me! But employers are getting away with it because hey we are lucky to have a job.

Goldiegirl

Isn't there an answerphone or voicemail you could use during the lunch break?

piglet74

I work 9 / 5, tho we are allowed to work between 8 and 6 on flexi time. Lunch break is unpaid and can be anytime between 12 and 2.

A lot of the staff tend to go out to the shops over lunch (I don't..I'm MSE!) But I do ignore the phone a lot of the time, and I do sometimes take my extension off the hook at lunch time

The building does have a main reception which doesn't close for lunch and is manned on a rota basis, so callers can come thru there.

suburbanwifey

Years ago I worked in a job where we had to eat lunch at our desks and it was made abundantly clear I was to answer the phone if it rang. It happened every day and I was unable to eat lunch, at all, ever. They did an assessment of us all and mine just happened to be over the phone during my lunch break. I was called into a meeting on how we could all improve the business and make them more money and during that meeting it was brought up that I had answered the phone curtly, rushed through the call and failed to do my job properly. I argued back that I was on *lunch* and if they wanted me to work through my lunch and let it go cold they could either give me a pay rise or fire me, and yes, I did say that. I mentioned employment law and employees rights and they shut up and I was granted permission to leave my desk and ignore the phone. I don't regret my stance, I was on lunch and in my opinion I was entitled to have it stress free and work free, I was not there on my lunch break to answer the phone. They didn't sack me surprisingly (wouldn't have cared if they had) and I got things changed to suit me. I think employers expect staff to give up way too much and pay them not nearly enough for the sacrifices (such as no lunch break as they expect you to work through it) they expect, under the guise that you are *lucky to have a job* I didn't consider myself lucky to have to be harassed by phone when I was trying to eat

gazzak_2

OP, I also get 30 minutes lunch, but can always manage to get a 1 1/2 miles walk in every day during those 30 minutes. Try it.

Abbafan1972

gibson123 wrote: »

I think this is totally unacceptable, BUT only because the customer who is trying to get through is not getting a decent service!

Either some-one is reluctantly answering, answering with a mouthful of lunch or not answering at all! And it's lunch-time which is often the busiest time for calls, as customers on THEIR lunch breaks are calling.

I think I would be approaching the boss with a suggestion for improving customer service / sales by ensuring staggered lunch breaks and adequate cover.

The bit in red isn't really true as our phone calls are usually from other companies (not individuals) who have a lunch break. So if I was to call them during their "lunch", I would have to call back or leave a message for the relevant person.

Last week I got peed off because someone who works for us (our salesman) rang during lunch (he know what time we have lunch) and said "oh I'm sorry am I disturbing your sandwich?". It wasn't urgent and he could have rung after lunch.

The next day I went out of the office and I did yesterday as well. Not sure about today though as it's raining. :mad: