Should the employer pay for food expenses?

GeordieGeorge

ushjr said:

JamoLew said:

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

sure it is - why not just make a salad or something and take that to eat.

Spending £10.50 a day for lunch is imo nuts

I don't like salad. That does mean my local kebab house gives me extra meat because I don't have any salad.

A proper lunch needs to be cooked and contain meat.

Marcon said:

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

If that's not a proper lunch, ever wondered why there were so many thriving sandwich bars before COVID? I think you'll find most people eat sandwiches rather than frittering more than a tenner on a working day lunch. If you don't like sandwiches, make yourself something nutritious and take that with you each day. 

I know lots of people buy sandwiches from Pret and the likes but its overpriced rubbish in my opinion. I'd rather spend a little bit extra on something that actually fills me up.

Of course lunch doesn’t “need” to contain meat.

You are listing your preference as needs, and suggesting that others are wrong in having different preferences.

If you can’t go a few hours without a big meal then that’s fine, but it’s neither normal nor something that employers should need to pay for.

steampowered

ushjr said:

I don't like salad. That does mean my local kebab house gives me extra meat because I don't have any salad.

A proper lunch needs to be cooked and contain meat.

I know lots of people buy sandwiches from Pret and the likes but its overpriced rubbish in my opinion. I'd rather spend a little bit extra on something that actually fills me up.

A meal does not need to contain meat. There are thousands of amazing vegetarian recipes out there all of which are far, far more delicious than cheap meat from a kebab shop.

If you don't want to eat a bit of salad, you might be headed to an early grave. You are not a toddler!

GeordieGeorge

steampowered said:

ushjr said:

I don't like salad. That does mean my local kebab house gives me extra meat because I don't have any salad.

A proper lunch needs to be cooked and contain meat.

I know lots of people buy sandwiches from Pret and the likes but its overpriced rubbish in my opinion. I'd rather spend a little bit extra on something that actually fills me up.

A meal does not need to contain meat. There are thousands of amazing vegetarian recipes out there all of which are far, far more delicious than cheap meat from a kebab shop.

If you don't want to eat a bit of salad, you might be headed to an early grave. You are not a toddler!

I’ve got to admit, I winced a bit when I read that post. Being happy to get extra elephant’s foot from the kebab shop rather than some salad paints a worrying picture.

I do love meat, but am also aware that if I care about my health then not having it too often is generally a good idea.

”Needing” a hot meal with meat in it at lunchtime sounds like a problem.

74jax

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

My husband work provides drinks, fruit baskets and lunch - although it's a take it or leave it (no choice). If you work overtime you have a menu to choose your food from. 

getmore4less

Stardustjunkie said:

My partner has travelled to a client today, leaving at 4am and won’t be back until 8/9pm tonight.

Approximately 5 hours will be travelling, then a day spent in the clients property. 

He took a sandwich and snacks but it’s a long manual day, without access to any kitchen facilities. He has spent about £15 on food for breakfast and dinner.

I work for a company that ensures staff have credit cards to pay for travel and food when out on business. Alternatively they refund expenses. This to me seems normal and appropriate behaviour from an employer but is it not?

Does the employer have an obligation to pay expenses when the staff member is away from the office, working an exceptionally long day/outside of their usual working hours.

Thanks 

As said this is something that needs discussions with the employer for subsistence allowance and time management.
Ideally documented policy so everyone knows the rules. 


how often do these sort of jobs happen.


For a job that long I would be expecting some support on the food and drink if there were no facilities.

if no facilities is a regular occurrence and remote so no places to get food and drink then portable on site like a camping stove is an option  


That is a 16/17hr day with 10+ hours working(depending on the break time to eat) which is excessive.

Some prefer to travel but that level of hours will take its toll the following day. 

For the odd one off I would put up with the time element but if more regular I would prefer overnight accommodation to start early and fresh for a long day.

TBagpuss

JamoLew said:

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

sure it is - why not just make a salad or something and take that to eat.

Spending £10.50 a day for lunch is imo nuts

Or indeed take something more substantial, if that's what you prefer to eat at lunch time.  You can even invest in a wide-mouthed thermos or other insulated box to take a hot, cooked meal if that's what you want.

JamoLew

TBagpuss said:

JamoLew said:

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

sure it is - why not just make a salad or something and take that to eat.

Spending £10.50 a day for lunch is imo nuts

Or indeed take something more substantial, if that's what you prefer to eat at lunch time.  You can even invest in a wide-mouthed thermos or other insulated box to take a hot, cooked meal if that's what you want.

Absolutely - I am 100% a meat eater - but the view that a meal HAS to be cooked and contain meat is a ridiculous notion even to me

GeordieGeorge

TBagpuss said:

JamoLew said:

ushjr said:

I think employers should pay for lunch as standard. If I wasn't in the office then I'd be cooking my lunch for much cheaper. I dread to think how much I pay for my lunch each year. Today it cost me £10.50 though that is more than I usually pay. I know some people eat sandwiches but that's not a proper lunch.

sure it is - why not just make a salad or something and take that to eat.

Spending £10.50 a day for lunch is imo nuts

Or indeed take something more substantial, if that's what you prefer to eat at lunch time.  You can even invest in a wide-mouthed thermos or other insulated box to take a hot, cooked meal if that's what you want.

And of course there’s the traditional hearty lunch of the working man, a Cornish pasty, which you can heat up on the car engine if you’ve had to travel.

TomokoAdhami

Morally employer should pay for such expenses but usually, in such cases, a pre-agreement is conducted about such things. 

Manxman_in_exile

My wife and I went out for a meal last night to a restaurant run by a previous Great British Menu winner.  We aren't vegetarians by any means but we both decided to have the vegetarian menu.

The meal was stunningly good - no meat in sight.

Cost more than £10.50 though...