strict company lunch hours (employees, employers, job, salary)

[Candyxlicious]

hi,
I work for a small 50 people less financial company based in manhattan. Our boss came to us and said lunch hours are from 12-2. the reason being is we need 2 people at our desk if others goes to lunch. ( i have 4 people in our dept)
therefore, he made us pick what time we go to lunch. either, 12 or 1...
i'm like, WTF, people's schedule change each day depending if we are busy or not. some day, i may go at 12, or some day, i may go at 1:30ish...
\
It's really reallyl not fair and get this... we cannot bring foods that'll prevails the smell to the office because that'll be rude to the client if they come in the office?? wtf?
what kind of a company is this?
Is anyone like this? I just want to get an idea what's out there!

[mbuszu]

That is completely fair to ask of employees.

You cannot have the office shut down because everyone comes or goes when they feel like it to take their lunch. You need to realize that it is a sound business decision to do what your manager has done. Live with it and adjust to it.

Complaining will get you no where and if someone else having this kind of control over you is seriously bothersome, then start a business in which you can work for yourself.

[Sassberto]

I work at a company where we can be in the middle of a major operational issue and people just abandon it because "it's lunchtime". It's insane to me, but for a lot of workers, that lunch break comes first.

[Ohiogirl81]

Of course it's fair. The clients come first, and someone's got to be there to work with them.

Hey, at least you got a choice. Scads of people work in places where they're told what time they can eat lunch. And others don't get a full hour.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Of course it's fair. The clients come first, and someone's got to be there to work with them.

Hey, at least you got a choice. Scads of people work in places where they're told what time they can eat lunch. And others don't get a full hour.

NO KIDDING!!! I've worked in banking and we ALWAYS had a set lunch time. If you wanted or needed to go at a different time once you had to find someone to switch with. You can NOT just all leave at the same time. What happens if you all schedule an appointment outside of the office at the same time? With a set lunch then you KNOW in ADVANCE when your actual lunch time is. I'd say your boss is WAY IN THE RIGHT and your in the wrong on that one. Besides, in some businesses lunch time is the busiest time. Others is when it slows for a bit. We have told our employees for years to take lunch BEFORE a certain time because after 2:00 it is usually BUSY!!!! They also can not all go at the same time.

As far as the food being brought in that could be offensive and stink up the office, I'm game for that one as well. I don't want to have to sit there and work the rest of the day w/ a horrid odor from someones foul lunch. It WOULD be offensive to customers as well.

Stop whining and be happy you have a job that gives you a lunch break and pays you.

[CityGirl72]

Depends on the job and if you are salary or hourly

If you have aposition that NEEDS to have people be there (say, a receptionist or a customer service agent) then yes this seems totally reasonable to ask of you.

Plus if you are an hourly worker you need to take you lunch break at a certain particular time to adhere to federal regulations, waiting to long goes against the law.

Now if you are salary, you have much more flexibility - I could if I wanted go at anytime for however long I need to have lunch...but if you take advantage too many times you might lose your job. Since I'm in Sr Management, I don't even get to take a lunch - it's my decision to sit at my desk with a warmed up Lean Cuisine, just to get more work done.

[sweetana3]

Join the real world. Employers set hours and rules. At least he is not asking you to eat lunch at 10 or 3.

As an employee, I wish they would get rid of the microwaves in our offices. You would not believe the number of people who burn their popcorn or pop greasy cheese flavored stuff that stinks up the whole office for hours.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by sweetana3

Join the real world. Employers set hours and rules. At least he is not asking you to eat lunch at 10 or 3.

As an employee, I wish they would get rid of the microwaves in our offices. You would not believe the number of people who burn their popcorn or pop greasy cheese flavored stuff that stinks up the whole office for hours.

Ya'Aint lived til someone warms up Kimshee in your microwave.......

[Racelady88]

Sounds like a highly professional work environment to me.

[NYC1]

i actually bought kimchee in for lunch and the whole office stinks!