Phone ringing during lunch break!

Andy_L

spacey2012 wrote: »

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

By contract law you may be.

The law is only being broken if the unpaid hours take you below NMW or over the working time directive limit or various industry specific limits eg drivers hours

1886

I leave my desk at lunchtime as I don't want to have customers coming up to me or calls being put through to me. It's one hour that's in my contract so I make sure I take it everyday, the other people in my department rotate lunch so that somebody is always available. The receptionist also leaves her desk as it would'nt be much of a lunch if she has to constantly answer the phone whilst she's trying to read a magazine

chuckley

go for a walk, or sit in the outside pub bit.

ive never understood why ppl have lunch at their desk.

AP007

chuckley wrote: »

go for a walk, or sit in the outside pub bit.

ive never understood why ppl have lunch at their desk.

Depends where you are located and what's around the place of work and you cant really go out in the rain for an hour or the cold

chuckley

yeah you can! wrap up, stick the headphones on and put up an umbrella!

AP007

chuckley wrote: »

yeah you can! wrap up, stick the headphones on and put up an umbrella!

and stand in the street?

superbigal36

Sit on the bog for half an hour and read a paper

robatwork

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

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:

Is it company policy that you can post on forums during working hours?

If you were working for me I would have a problem with that.

FWIW it's important to have a decent break away from your desk/chair/keyboard every day so I wouldn't just sit there.

Paully232000

liney wrote: »

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.

I would definitely agree with this. I would answer the phone during my lunch depending on what mood I am in if I am eating my lunch at my desk.
Mostly I would answer it but then that is because my work is very flexible, and there is give and take on both sides.
If there wasnt and like above, if they moaned about other things when I have just spent my lunch on the phone that good will would end.

John1993_2

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

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:

In my business (banking) we tend to work 10-12 hours straight through every day, eating breakfast and unch at our desks, and would never dream of letting the phone go unanswered dring these times. There is no overtime, so we are doing 50-60 hour weeks for our basic pay.

Of course, if we then get a bonus at the end of the year to compensate us, we can expect the papers to be filed with outrage at this...