A few years ago I started a job that was more office based than previous jobs. Because of that, I was moving less and gaining some weight and I am very out of shape. I’m not overweight, but I’m carrying a little more fat than I’m used to and I can tell my cardio ability has gone down.
I get a one hour paid lunch per day. A lot of my coworkers eat at their desk and do a little work, like maybe answering an email. But mostly eating. I personally go to my car to eat and then do laps around the parking garage before I go back in. I am never gone for more than an hour, I am back on time.
Recently I did my normal routine. I grabbed my lunch, went to my car and ate it, then I started on my walk. I happened to run into a coworker during my walk. He was out there because he forgot needed something from his car. He stopped me and asked what I was doing. I told him I ate my lunch and now I am taking a walk before my lunch break is over.
He didn’t like that answer and said our lunch break is for eating, not walking, and that when I am done eating, I should go back to work. I told him we are given an hour for lunch, I want to use all of it in the best way I can.
I think he told other people because then, I’ve been receiving comments before I go on break that I didn’t receive before. I don’t think I was wrong, I’m entitled to my break, all my work gets done on time, I take it at about the same time every day so it’s expected I won’t be available, and I maybe come back to a few non-urgent emails. I have my phone on me in case someone calls for an emergency, which has never happened.
I talked to my parents about it and they both said they work through lunch and I shouldn’t be out walking. But also they’re older and raised in a different time, so I don’t know if I should trust their judgement.
So AITA for taking a walk during my lunch break?
ETA: it’s paid. A lot of people think it’s unpaid. I am paid for it. I’m salary. My manager doesn’t have an issue but some people I work with do have an issue knowing I use part of it to walk.
Comments
Welcome to /r/AmITheAsshole. Please view our voting guide here, and remember to use only one judgement in your comment.
OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I am using my paid lunch break to take walks, not just eat. It’s causing problems with coworkers.
Help keep the sub engaging!
Don’t downvote assholes!
Do upvote interesting posts!
Click Here For Our Rules and Click Here For Our FAQ
Subreddit Announcements
Follow the link above to learn more
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
Do you work with a bunch of servile nitwits? Are your parents both lackeys to the man?
Don’t answer – these are rhetorical questions! NTA
I don’t know a single person who works through lunch unless it’s mandatory for everyone. NTA.
I walked 10,000 steps at my job today, I think it’s ok for you to do what you want with that hour. Lots of people and my work use their lunch for walking.
nta a paid break is still a break, take it
NTA If you’re of the clock on your break then you can do whatever the (censored) you want on your break. And if they continue harassing you, take notes and go to HR.
NTA lunch hour is a hour of time you don’t get paid for.
What you do in that hour is none of their concern.
If you walked to a restaurant ate and walked back it would have the same effect. It’s an hour you don’t need to be at your desk.
Why on earth does he care?
NTA. If you get an hour then take your entire hour especially if it’s unpaid.
Edit
I see it is paid.. My opinion is the same, if they give you an hour, take it.
NTA. Lunch hour is your hour. Quick errand, walk around, chain smoke lol it’s your time
NTA. Lunch hour is lunch hour, unpaid. Do not work if you’re not getting paid. I have an office job with an hour lunch and I can do whatever I want during that hour. My one co-worker uses it to get his hair cut once a month or so, lol. It’s your time.
NTA! What you do on YOUR break is your business! I work from home and regularly take a walk on my break. Why are your co-workers and parents such bootlickers about this?! Keep on strolling.
NTA, you should be allowed to take any break..it’s great for both you and your work.
Bruh these are OLD PEOPLE. people are saying “breaks are for lunch, and you go back to work after”. No.
Take your break however you want, use up that full hour. If it comes an issue, you can find a HR documentation on your paid break, and forward that to whenever someone bothers you again.
NTA, if the job says you get an hour, you get an hour. Keep yourself healthy. If somebody in administration comes down on you for it, look for another job.
I’m older and ALWAYS walked on my lunch break. Fresh air and exercise meant I was more alert during the afternoon. Most days a coworker joined me.
My spouse worked at multiple locations with a gym and shower. They would run on their break.
I would go to HR. Your unpaid lunch break if yours to do with as you wish. NTA
Edit to add – their lack of boundaries around their work are not your issue. I’ve done far too much unpaid overtime over the years such as working through lunch, working after hours. I’m bet te r now at work/life boundaries and I’m so much better for it
You do a better job, because you are away from your desk! As long as you’re clock out from work you can do what you want.😀
Good employers would encourage an actual hour break at lunch. Working straight through without a break every day tends to make your work less efficient and lower quality. Which probably explains why you’re paid to take a break.
Your lunch is your time to do what you want- I use to walk during my lunch, I have coworkers who sleep in their cars, and some go out to eat, who is this guy anyway is he the owner of the business? Some people need to get lives and not worry about somebody taking a walk during lunch.
NTA. My mom takes walks on her breaks too, and she works at a factory with only 30 minute lunches. Your breaks are your own to do as you please.
NTA, use your whole break as you see fit
NTA if it’s an unpaid lunch break
nta. enjoy your peaceful lunch and walks. of other ppl are too stupid to take a real break, then that’s on them.
I would go for my walk and then eat my lunch at my desk.
NTA BUT, What does your boss say? Have you asked?
NTA ~ take and enjoy your free time away from the desk. Good for you for walking
NTA
Last I checked, it’s called lunch BREAK, not lunch work-more time.
NTA. Sounds like the haters need to take a walk themselves.
Your “lunch break” is just that—a break. What if someone was fasting? Would they just be expected to work anyway because they can’t eat during work hours?
It’s your lunch to do whatever you choose. A walk is a great way to exercise and clear your head for the rest of the workday. Enjoy and keep doing it! If it really bothers you, you can look up the company policy (and union rules) related to lunch time. And the next time anyone says anything you can point them to the policy and suggest that they take a walk.
NTA. If the company gives you an hour for lunch then you can use that time however you want. I’ll bet those same coworkers are not “working” at their desk during that hour when they’re not eating. You should also get up and stretch your legs during other times of the day because sitting for long hours isn’t healthy.
Your lunch hour is your lunch hour to do with what you please. Eat, walk, sleep, go for a drive. Learn a new language. A lot of people do work through lunch, eating at their desk. That is their choice! I once worked at a place where a group of employees thought that it was expected to work through lunch because their supervisor chose to. These were hourly employees putting on their time cards that they took and hour even though they worked straight through. I told the supervisor to tell his folks that they could take that lunch break! What insanity. I don’t think you would see that anywhere but in the USA.
Why? Our secretary went to the gym to work out on her lunch break.
It’s your break-
Some people like to complain about everything and anything.
NTA. That’s your time, you can do whatever the hell you want with it. I don’t understand people’s dedication to working themselves to death behind their desk, but it is, in fact, healthier to take a break, stretch your legs, and get your blood flowing when you spend eight hours a day sitting and staring at a computer.
NTA
Your co-worker is an ass.
I don’t care if you get an hour for lunch, or only 30 minutes, or if your lunch is paid or unpaid. Your lunch time is your lunch time. Period.
NTA. When I had an hour lunch I used to walk, too.
I am a business owner. If one of my employees got hurt while working when off the clock, it would be a huge liability issue for me. You are doing your employer and their lawyers a solid when you follow the rules. Everyone who is working off of the clock, including your obnoxious coworker, is dead ass wrong.
NTA
I’m just gonna leave this here for all the idiots who work on their breaks and don’t realize they’re being taken advantage of and having their wages stolen.
NTA. What you do on your unpaid lunch is entirely up to you and not the concern of anyone else.
§ 785.19 Meal.
(a) Bona fide meal periods. Bona fide meal periods are not worktime. Bona fide meal periods do not include coffee breaks or time for snacks. These are rest periods. The employee must be completely relieved from duty for the purposes of eating regular meals. Ordinarily 30 minutes or more is long enough for a bona fide meal period. A shorter period may be long enough under special conditions. The employee is not relieved if he is required to perform any duties, whether active or inactive, while eating. For example, an office employee who is required to eat at his desk or a factory worker who is required to be at his machine is working while eating. (Culkin v. Glenn L. Martin, Nebraska Co., 97 F. Supp. 661 (D. Neb. 1951), aff’d 197 F. 2d 981 (C.A. 8, 1952), cert. denied 344 U.S. 888 (1952); Thompson v. Stock & Sons, Inc., 93 F. Supp. 213 (E.D. Mich 1950), aff’d 194 F. 2d 493 (C.A. 6, 1952); Biggs v. Joshua Hendy Corp., 183 F. 2d 515 (C. A. 9, 1950), 187 F. 2d 447 (C.A. 9, 1951); Walling v. Dunbar Transfer & Storage Co., 3 W.H. Cases 284; 7 Labor Cases para. 61.565 (W.D. Tenn. 1943); Lofton v. Seneca Coal and Coke Co., 2 W.H. Cases 669; 6 Labor Cases para. 61,271 (N.D. Okla. 1942); aff’d 136 F. 2d 359 (C.A. 10, 1943); cert. denied 320 U.S. 772 (1943); Mitchell v. Tampa Cigar Co., 36 Labor Cases para. 65, 198, 14 W.H. Cases 38 (S.D. Fla. 1959); Douglass v. Hurwitz Co., 145 F. Supp. 29, 13 W.H. Cases (E.D. Pa. 1956))
NTA. You can still be reached for something urgent. You’re doing a great thing for your body and mind
NTA.
Man… fuck all those corpo-clowns. Take your hour: eat, walk, read a book, practice transcendental meditation, practice sketching… whatever you want. It’s your break.
NTA – it’s your lunch break and you can do whatever you want during it. The majority of people at my office take a walk, do errands, or sit and chat during their lunch break.
Ask your union rep whether you’re entitled to not-work when you’re not paid to work.
You’re given a one hour lunch break, likely unpaid. That time is for you to rest and recharge so you can complete the rest of your shift safely and effectively. Good for you using the time to move your body.
If it’s paid they can tell you what to do, if not they can stfu. Is this the culture where you work? If so, it’s a toxic culture. Taking a break like that really improves your productivity and mental health. All corporate type jobs I’ve ever had encouraged this. People would walk in groups. Maybe it’s time for a little Norma Rae… union, union, union! Plus this asshat is not your boss. Next time tell nosy asshat coworker to get his lazy ass back in the building and get back to work! 😬
If your lunch is unpaid do whatever you want at lunch. If it’s paid then ask either HR or your supervisor.
NTA
I doubt its truly old people cuz I’m over 60 and walking during lunch was extremely common all thru my 20s, 30s etc. Some lapped the bldg, some walked into adjacent neighborhoods, some walked down the hill to the commercial center nearby with restaurants and shops. They would eat, then walk around there and back up the hill.
If it was raining, then you’d see people in the garage, but most just put on a raincoat with hood and ignored the rain.
So, its really common and recommended cuz it clears your mind and re-energizes you for the afternoon.
Go ahead and loudly tell Mr. Nosy to Google the benefits of walking midday at work. Remind him when the company says there is an hour for lunch, everyone is expected to use that hour to take a break. Breaks are healthy and increase productivity.
Take your hour. It’s not all about the money
I work an office/corporate job and we are encouraged to walk. Doesn’t even have to be at lunch, we can literally get up and walk for a good 20-30 minutes if we want to. There’s even a 24 Hour gym at pretty much every office site. I mean, I guess if people abused the privilege and weren’t getting their work done it would become a problem, but I’ve never heard of that happening. We even have Quiet Rooms/Meditation Rooms at some office sites. And we get trainings at least 2-3 times a year telling us to get up and move regularly, it makes you more productive. Your co-workers all sound super out of touch.
If you are not paid during your lunch break it’s no one’s business what you are doing.
Nta, sounds like jealousy. Ask if they want to come. Being able to clear your head and feel good about yourself helps you have a productive time at work.
I walk often during lunch. Your parents are wrong and your co-workers can go suck eggs. Companies are starting to encourage healthy habits for employees and even put gyms in some places. Ignorepeople who have anything negative to say. Walk down the street instead of around the parking lot if you can so they don’t have to see you. IF someone is petty enough to complain to HR (and if HR is small enough to say something to you) simply reply that a one hour break during the middle of my work day is part of my compensation package and I am entitled to take that break any way I see fit.
Or you could reply to the malcontents who dare to say something to you: Studies show that employees are better at their job are more alert and make less errors if they take regular breaks away from their desk.
OR I am able to get my work done during the 8 hours I am paid to work. Thank you for your concern.
Of course you are totally fine. Doing nothing wrong. However, there is something seriously wrong with your coworker that is effed up.
My position is mentally intensive, and we sit the whole time. Leaving the computer is a requirement during lunch – they say it clears the brain so we’re better able to do our jobs the 2nd half of the day. One time I had messed up my ankle so I was going to stay at my desk and they still required that I get away from my desk!
NTA. Your lunch break is your time. You can do whatever you want during it.
NTA, and people working during their lunch can be a labor law violation depending on what state you’re in.
It wasn’t HR or your manager. Stretch and take that hour.
Why are you answering to a rando anyway?
sounds like they’re just a bunch of worthless worker ants
NTA.
Take your break and do not succumb to the pressures and comparisons of the workplace.
Your body needs a break from sitting at a desk; it’s good for your mental and physical well-being. People who take adequate breaks tend to have less stress and better concentration and attention.
Signed
-Stressed out boss lady who doesn’t make the time for herself nearly enough.
NTA ! Taking care of your body helps take care of your mind, which in turn helps you be happier (and more productive!)
Screw ’em 😛
Sweet Jesus, you’re NTA. It’s your lunch. I’m 61 so no, it’s not an old people thing to work through lunch. Take a walk!! This is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard
NTA. My last company would cheer if more employees walked during lunch. They actively promoted healthy activities. It’s the culture that’s broken.
Generally speaking it is illegal to force or even encourage someone to work on your break whether it’s lunch or not. Don’t change what you are doing and if you keep getting snotty comments and it is something you can (or don’t want to) brush off go to HR or your boss.
NTA
Talk to HR and see if they can start a wellness program to encourage healthy behaviors (and cut down on health insurance costs, if you are in the US). Maybe you can make walking at lunch a trend!
NTA if you’re off the clock your time is your own. If your coworkers choose to work through their personal time it’s not your issue. Also no one should be working while they’re off the clock. It’s a liability issue.
I’m retired and probably much older than your parents. I had a very stressful job and I did exactly what you do. I ate lunch in my car and then walked for the remainder of my lunch hour. You can do whatever you want during your lunch break. Sometimes if my dog had been sick I would run home just to check on him and let him out to do his business. Your coworkers don’t need to monitor what you do during lunch. They need to mind their own business. Unless it’s mandatory that you remain in the office, it’s your time to do whatever. I had a co-worker who would go out to her car and sleep.
nta your lunch break is yours to do what you want, whether it’s eating or walking.
nta your lunch break is yours to do what you want, whether it’s eating or walking.
I don’t know about you but my lunch break is unpaid. If I want to spend it eating, walking around the car park, watching Netflix or just twiddling my thumbs at my desk, that’s my business.
NTA.
NTA
what in the anti-labor union loving shit did I just read? I worked for a state department and we had to take an hour unpaid lunch, unpaid lunch means leave your work area, you are not being paid to work, what in the every loving fuck? do not work unpaid. DO NOT WORK UNPAID. if you are asked to work unpaid please contact a legal representative and check the labor codes in your state.
NTA. People who work on their lunch breaks are class traitors. Unions fought hard for breaks. Use them however you want, it’s your time!
NTA
Your workplace can actually get into a lot of legal trouble if you aren’t taking your breaks. Even if someone wants to skip them and work, you have to follow the legal standards (which will vary depending on where you are). This is in addition to breaks being important for staying healthy.
I started taking my full breaks when I got pregnant and when HR (of all people) made nasty comments, I told them I was taking my legally mandated breaks as everyone should. Haven’t heard any comments since.
nta, and why the hell does your coworker think he has any right to police you in what you do during your lunch breaks?
Your hour break is yours to do what you want.
Doesn’t matter if you want to spend it walking, playing video games in your car, whatever.
Very NTA
I’ve never met anyone who gets a paid lunch break to be honest…
We get an unpaid hour and have a lunchtime run club. It was created by the staff but some of the managers happily joined… why wouldn’t they want their staff to be fit/active/healthy? It’s better for the mind and body (and productivity!)
That’s your co-worker and not your boss? Who cares what they say? It is none of their business what you do for your lunch hour. Stop giving so much information – your co-workers are not friends – this one seems like an enemy – I use my lunch hour for personal time and I am not working. So you do not have to work through lunch. All of them are wrong!
It’s your lunch hour to do with as you please, I did the same thing when I worked in an office.
NTA. why would you subsidize the company you work for with your time? Your life is more valuable than that.
We had a gym in the basement of our office building, most of the staff use their lunch break to go work out. Nothing different than what you were doing. NTA
NTA. It’s your break, you can eat, walk, throw pebbles at small children, take horseback riding lessons, or sharpen a sword if you want to, it’s your time.
NTA. It’s not effecting your work performance, I don’t see why it’s their business what you do on your break. I once had a job at a call center and got scolded cause I went outside for some air on my break; guess who got a new job.
I’m probably older than your parents, and I say NTA and good for you! Take your break, do what you want.
I only worked through lunch so I could leave earlier. CA law changed about that after I left that job.
NTA
Tell him that office time is for him to work, not comment on what other people can do in their free time
NTA. In my state we are legally allowed a break and my job we clock out and clock back in. So I take the time I’m not clocked in is my time to use as I want. My job will actually get on us to make sure we take our breaks as well. (It helps we have a union in place).
NTA. It’s your break. If you are out for a break then it is your choice to use it in the way you choose.
If anyone gives you shit for it, tell them that you have photosynthesis for dessert and excuse yourself to the fresh air and the sun. That’d be part of lunch, right?
I’ve worked at places where they have said if you want to work 9-5 and not clock out for a lunch break then you need to eat at your desk or eat in the break room briefly.
I’ve also worked at places where they require you to clock out for a lunch break.
Then there’s an element of work culture. If you’re not adopting the company culture then they will of course feel like something’s off.
I would just clarify the policy. If you’re misunderstanding the policy or the culture then you will appear to be the asshole.
If everyone is working at the their desk because of fear or ignorance then NTA.
For the record, I think everyone should be doing walks at lunch and also taking an hour break.
What country are you in? That just seems so ass backwards to me that my first thought is that can’t be America.
I work at a welfare office and its very common for the workers to go out for walks on their breaks and lunches. I’ve done it and I stand all day normally. Fuck youre coworkers, I won’t say that about them but you’re parents views are outdated, like thats slave mentality. A break is a break for whatever the hell you want to do for it.
There’s many larger companies in our county. So many of them have walking tracks around the buildings and parking lots. They encourage exercise because it boosts afternoon productivity.
Don’t let those ignorant idiots tell you how to spend your hour.
It’s called a break. You’re allowed to do with it as you please. And you should report to HR that you are being harassed for using your lunch break. If they expect you to work through lunch then you owe them an hour less of work each day and should leave an hour earlier.
I’m really having a trouble seeing where it’s anyone else’s business what you do with your hour. When I worked, lots of people went out and exercised to lunch. It was the perfect opportunity. It makes you more alert in the afternoon, it makes you come back refreshed and healthier, and your employer benefits from it. Tell the flying monkeys, including your parents, that what you do was your lunch hour is your business. It’s supposed to be a lunch break, not a lunch work hour! Nta
NTA. My boss obsesses over a different thing every month. Last month it was how much damage sitting at a desk for 8+ hours does to the human body. She says she heard on some podcast or read somewhere that sitting at a desk all day without moving is the equivalent of smoking 234 cigarettes a day. Idk if it’s true. Didn’t even look it up. I just got my ass up and made sure I was moving throughout the day.
Bahahaha. I would have been like, “I’m sorry, but I did not realize you were the lunch police.”
NTA. Tell him to mind his business.
I’m wish I could call bullshit on this, but I know how the world works.
I’m 66 and have been working since I was 16. I’ve worked in food service, construction, warehouses, sales, office clerical, white collar and C-level leadership. I have never ever encountered anyone who believed your mandatory 30-minute or 1-hour lunch break was over as soon as you were done eating.
NTA.
NTA
Take it from someone who does work through their lunch break, take the break. If you have the freedom/ability to take a full hour lunch you absolutely should take it. People like me who don’t take lunch/ a full break only don’t do so because we’re unable to not because we don’t want to. Do not give your job any of your time for free
I am assuming here that you are not paid for your lunch break.
NTA
I don’t know what career field your parents were in, that they would decide to work through their lunch break, but speaking as a senior citizen, when I was working, I also had an hour lunch break.
And I did whatever I needed to do on my lunch break. If I decided to go for a walk, I would do that. I would not even consider working through my lunch break.
NTA!!! I’m saying this as an old person. Take your break!!!
Some of these just baffle me and make me sad that someone even feels the need to ask if they’re in the wrong. Paid, unpaid lunch, I don’t care. People are given lunch and they don’t have the legal right to even expect an employee to even answer one email, even if its urgent. That is YOUR time, not theirs. I could definitely see crappy management expecting things they can’t make you do but fellow co-workers!!! If they want to do work while eating, that’s their prerogative but one, it’s not their place to make any suggestions or comments about what you’re doing on your lunch and two, it’s not even legal because it’s your lunch break. Employers sometimes just think their owed time, unpaid time and to me, that’s simply not happening. If I DO work tasks on my time, they should be appreciative but not ever expect it, and SURE AS HELL not demand it!
NTA. They aren’t paying you on your break, don’t work. It’s the other people that have it wrong.
American here and walking during lunches is very common at the company I work for and we only get 30 minutes unpaid. It’s quite common and has been encouraged by our company in the past.
It is also very common to work through lunch, as well but is generally discouraged by the company.
NTA – use your break how you see fit!
Use your lunch break however you want, you’re not getting paid. I’m sorry you’re dealing with a hostile environment, it may be time for HR involvement.
I have worked in offices where everyone goes on a group walk for about 15 minutes during lunch and we all encourage each other to stretch and get some fresh air! You being healthy isn’t just good for you, it’s also good for the company and they should support that.
NTA You get the time you get and you can do what you want with it. I would ignore your colleague but go talk to HR to confirm you have an hour and taking a walk is not an issue. Sounds like you are not in the US where this is pretty regulated.
NTA. If you are given a one-hour lunch break, it’s your time to use as you please. If they intended for you to take a shorter break, they would have given you a half-hour break.
Maybe verify with you boss that lunch breaks are, in fact, one hour. Otherwise, don’t worry about it.
I don’t work in an office, but I get a break for lunch. You better believe I’m just going out for a walk even though I work in a restaurant and walking(running) is half my job! I just want to not be in the building.
Where i work, many people walk on their breaks. I used to, maybe i need to start again.
NTA I’m 65 years old. It has never occurred to me to notice, much less comment on, how coworkers spend their lunch breaks.
I’ve had coworkers who run errands, exercise, study, shop online, etc.
In fact, due to you getting away from screens and exercising during lunch, you are probably less tired than your coworkers. This would translate to you being more productive.
it’s normal at my work to talk a walk together sometimes! we are more than encouraged to do whatever we want for our lunch break. i do normally not take a lunch because i prefer to be away from home for as little time as possible for work, but it is certainly not weird or inappropriate and is absolutely a great choice for your physical and mental well-being!
I walked laps when weather permitted, or went to the gym, or shut my door and napped (yes the VP and my direct boss knew, they did not care – it is my hour). NTA – your hour, your health, none of their business
NTA. Your lunch hour belongs to you.
NTA
Just because your parents and coworkers want to sell their souls to the CEO, you don’t have to. Take your break and enjoy your walk.
lol my coworkers and I will go on hour long walks in the middle of the day. We usually make it a “walking meeting” and actually discuss things we’re working on but sometimes we just need a break. NTA for using your lunch break to take a walk.
I’m Gen X and have strong work ethic. You should absolutely use your entire lunch hour and if you can use it to do something that provides as much benefit as a walk does even better. You are likely a more productive employee because of this. That guy is TA and needs to mind his own business.
NTA my last employer basically asked, indirectly, that we eat at our desks. Had to answer phone while I ate. People walking in my room while I ate to ask me questions. Expected to join zoom calls whenever they happened. I was going insane there and quit. Some people didn’t eat lunch so it wasn’t a problem for them. No one ate at the same time either.
NTA. The job is required to give you a lunch break. What you do with it is up to you.
NTA, you’re not on company time on break. Spend it how you wish. Also, good call on getting exercise in!
NTA. Sheesh. Since he’s so loyal to his job maybe he should work while he eats lunch? He needs go get off his high horse and mind his own business.
NTA geez I don’t like your coworker.
NTA
If you get paid to NOT work for an hour, then DONT work for that hour. At my retail job, we get 1 half hour unpaid lunch, and 2 paid 15 min breaks. The only rule is that you don’t take them together. I set a timer when I take my break and I park myself in a corner to be left alone. If someone calls the department phone, or a customer needs help, I pause the timer and restart when I can. The company wants me to take these breaks, I’m gonna take them.
Why in the world would anyone work through an unpaid lunch break?!! I live in Australia and unless there is some kind of urgent deadline, the majority of people would go away from their desk to have lunch and chill for the full lunch break. If these people want to work for free, that’s on them. Ignore these idiots and you do you. NTA.
NTA.
If your break is an hour it’s your break and you are entitled to do whatever you wish in that hour. Ignore the bossy coworker and remind your parents that employees are not slaves. I doubt their employers cared or even noticed if they were at their desk during lunch break or not, despite what they may tell themselves.
NTA! It is good for your wellbeing and workplace productivity to get out of the office for a break during the day.
NTA and it baffling to me that any company normalizes there employees eating there lunch at there desk because they are paid for there lunch. My job requires us to take our breaks away from our desk like we have to have our computers locked during breaks and lunch and trust me our managers know if there were not.
I’m older, and retired, and was salaried my entire career. Take your walk. Smell the air. Clear your head.
If you work through lunch, it’s because you came in late or need to leave early and don’t want to use PTO because your state requires it to be used in 4 hr increments. Otherwise, you giving hours away.
You get an hour for lunch. You take your hour. Period.
I’m 42 and most of the people I work with younger and older, take multiple walks per day. My boss does 2 miles everyday and she’s older than me. It’s not even scheduled. It’s just when she feels like it.
My past 4 workplaces, have all had people I noticed taking walks. It might have been at previous work places too, but about 4 jobs ago is when I started doing walks with my coworkers. Yeah, we’d actually all go take a walk break together. And not just on lunch. We’d just take a break to go walk whenever.
We’re all engineers making 6 figures. Our bosses trust us to get our jobs done. We don’t have set in and out or lunch times. There are core hours and you are expected to work your full hours but not micromanaged.
One job I left to go across the street and my team was like “we can still walk together!” LOL
Desk jobs are very unhealthy. Everyone I know encourages you to get more walks in. I’m pretty lazy and my officemate is totally low-key judging that I eat at my desk everyday.
It’s insane to me that you are having the opposite experience. Is your field really cutthroat? Cause the engineers in the cube farms are going for walks TOGETHER to gossip.
ETA: NTA
ETA AGAIN: There is an important distinction that is fuzzy after reading your comments. You are salary and do 8 hour days. Usually that means your working time is 8 hours. Yes, you are allowed an hour for lunch, but that isn’t part of the 8 working hours expected.
It should be clearly defined by your workplace. Do they expect you to work 7 hours and have 1 hours paid lunch, OR do they expect you to work 8 hours with an allowed hour for lunch and trust you to manage your own time schedule to get in your 8 hours? BIG DIFFERENCE.
NTA. Please keep doing what you’re doing. And please, don’t listen to them. You are entitled to this time, and actually it‘s a law, so keep walking and bettering yourself.
NTA- you can do anything you want during your lunch hour. Eat, walk sleep, play computer games, read, stare at the sky etc. .
Your co worker is wrong. Keep up your walks! Go you!
Personally, I would drive somewhere so that my car was not visible and walk. But that’s not always an option. Tell your coworkers to mind their own business. Jesus
Take your walk and enjoy your lunch break. You get nothing extra by working through lunch.
NTA. We walked to the Y and swam on our lunches.
Your lunch break is your own, how you spend your time is none of anyone else’s business. If they want to eat at their desks and work, that’s their own business. NTA
NTA. WTF is wrong with people? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you walking on your lunch break if you want to. I can’t believe someone would give you a hard time about this!
NTA – If your place of employment provides any kind of health insurance, you may be helping to keep the group rate lower. Healthy people exercise. Healthy people are not frequently admitted to hospitals.
NTA. your place of business sucks. where I work senior manages encourages healthy behavior including walking on your lunch period. in fact in the past we used to have competitions to see who could get the most steps in.
Ummm a break is for whatever a person wants to do during their break; eating, walking, sleeping, driving somewhere, making a phone call or several, etc. it’s a state mandated break; therefore you can do whatever your heart desires on your break and no one can tell you otherwise!
NTA.
Sorry, but this made me laugh. Co-workers aren’t your friends. You work with or near them. That’s the extent of your responsibility.
Take your walks, and let HR know if anyone is dumb or petty enough to give you trouble.
If you’re working through lunch it’s not a lunch! You get to do what
You want on your lunch break. Everyone’s the ass hole except you!
NTA! It’s actually been proven through science that walking after meals helps you digest better and lowers the glycemic load up to 30% – which will in turn give your brain more energy for work later. Also, your coworkers can kick rocks.
What kind of nonsense are these people telling you. Take your lunch, enjoy the time. Companies get sued all the time for employees working through lunch. Personally I work through my lunch daily but thats my choice, not one person would look at me weird if I took a hour every day away from my desk.
You’re coworker needs to mind his effing business. It’s free, he should try it. NTA.
Is it an unpaid hour and you’re supposed to take the full thing? NTA.
It’s your break. You’re not getting paid. If others choose to work for free, that’s on them.
If you were union and you were working during your break, you would get in trouble.
Do others take a half hour lunch and two 15 minute breaks? Then it’s the same thing. Nosy coworker needs to mind his own. Talk to HR to make sure you aren’t taking too much time then just ignore it.
It’s your “break “. Use it anyway you want
NTA jfc, take your full break, never do any amount of work for free. Tell coworker to mind their business and they are welcome to walk during their break too.
If anyone says anything just say, “would you like to join me?”
I think people do kind of what everybody else does for lunch … I was in a group where everyone was kind of eating at their desk but at some point, I put a meeting on my friend’s calendar at lunch lunchtime and then we would eat for half an hour and then walk for half an hour… then everybody got used to doing that.
NTA. Your lunch break is unpaid personal time. If you choose to walk, run errands, read a book, or take a nap, it doesn’t matter with one caveat: be back on time. That’s it. It’s YOUR time and not for anyone to harass you about. If they choose to work unpaid, that’s their business.
If you are in America it depends if you exempt v. non-exempt. If you are non-exempt then your entire lunch hour that is defined by your supervisor for over at least 30 minutes is 100% work free. If you are exempt it is squishier, but work places that take advantage of it are not great. NTA
NTA- an hour lunch is your time to do what you want. It’s good self care to not do work. You’ll be more productive for taking a real break.
NTA. Your lunch hour is yours, whether you choose to eat and walk, or sit at your desk, or play on your phone… doesn’t matter. It’s your hour. Your nosy co-worker is out of line. Your parents are wrong to try to normalize working during time that belongs to you. Times have changed. The era of the lifetime employee being rewarded for working through lunch and getting a gold watch after 25 years are long gone. Enjoy your personally and emotionally productive lunch break.
It is so completely normal for people to walk at lunch. I’ve seen this among pretty much all generations in the workforce too, so I can’t imagine of its a generational thing… Does your office have a particularly toxic environment?
My mom and her colleague did the exact same thing. Expect they ate while working and then spent their 30 minutes lunch break taking a nice long walk.
It helped so much with their mental and physical health.
If you are “granted” an hour for lunch, it is your time to spend. They are buying 8 hours of your life a day, why would you give them extra?
NTA. I see in the comments where you say you’re salaried. Might want to add that to the post. So working through lunch wouldn’t break any labor laws. But when you negotiated your compensation it was with the belief that you’d get an hour lunch. I’d get working through when needed to get the work done, but not on a regular basis. (Otherwise compensation needs to be renegotiated to account for the extra work). Your work is done on time. Your boss doesn’t care as long as said work is done. You’re fine. Coworkers are just unhappy you have work/life boundaries that they’re opting not to use.
I’m and in management. It’s your hour, do whatever you want.
Nta. Your lunch period is yours to use as you please.
Take the break.
Even better, find a buddy to walk with you, or speak to HR about wellness initiatives (if you have one.)
As someone that worked at a ‘we eat at our desks over lunch’ place, it was beautiful to see people slowly change the culture. Eventually people took their hour to do laps in the pool across the road, go for walks, sit outside in the sun together.
NTA
The only person whose opinion counts is the person who writes your performance review.
I am also old (like your folks). Take your lunch break. The whole thing. Do whatever you want in that time. Except drink or smoke weed maybe. Your parents are wrong. Your co workers are wrong.
Boomer here. Take your lunch break. The end.
I used to use my hour lunch to nap in my car. NTA
Your coworker is TAH.
NTA. Yeesh, tell me you’re American without saying you’re American.
When you’re on your lunch break, that’s your time to do what you want. Just because other people voluntarily give that time back to the company to do work and wolf down food at their desk doesn’t mean you have to.
Your co-worker, OTOH, decided that what you do on your time is a reason to try to create a hostile environment for you at work, so document the conversation you had with him and the comments you’re getting. Time to look out for yourself because your co-worker sounds like someone who likes to sabotage people.
Back when I worked in an office, I also took walks during my lunch break. The sidewalks around the building would usually be more crowded around lunchtime with all the workers taking walks, there’s nothing unusual about it. Your parents must have had some really cruddy jobs if they couldn’t take their breaks.
I used to have an hour paid lunch and I would go for walks. Also, at least once a day I would take a 15 minute walk around the property with a coworker to get out for a few minutes. We were an office of 5, and the owners didn’t care.
I know a lot of people who do this. My current office has group walks at lunch, even.
1- unless he is a supervisor it is none of his business what you do on your own time.
2. even if he is a supervisor it none of his business what you do on your own time.
3. Taking a break is good for your mental health and helps to reset your mind to be able to be more productive.
I am an older Gen X & I have worked through lunch when I have needed to catch up on something but it was MY CHOICE. I have also used my lunch hour to walk as well. I guard my time that I’m not on the clock as my time and I take my breaks and my lunch hours because life is too short to spend every minute of it working. A job is a means to pay bills & if you are doing something you enjoy and have a fulfilling work life all the better but again, it’s a job and if you left tomorrow they would replace you without a thought.. guard your time.
NTA, You are given an hour for lunch, just because some chose to work through lunch doesn’t mean you have to. Your manager doesn’t care, the next time someone makes a comment, let them know your manager says it’s ok and they should mind thier own business. (albeit in a more diplomatic way than the way i phrased it, but I can get bitchy when people tell me how they think I should spend my time.)
Office people suck. When they’re not complaining about the thermostat they’re bitching about their coworkers. I say this as a long time office worker.
NTA. im a manager and I would encourage it if i was your boss especially if it’s paid.
No. Tell your boss about your co-worker how he’s making you uncomfortable. If that doesn’t work HR.
NTA. Your break is yours to do as you please. I worked at a place where I used to do that. Took walks during my lunch. Also when the team was bigger we used to play Doom during lunch breaks. We had licensed copies and would play for an hour (with the supervisor) Sounds to me like the co-worker is just jealous.
You get the hour, take the hour
Tell them studies show that people who take breaks are more productive.
As someone over 70 with extensive work experience DO NOT WORK THROUGH YOUR LUNCH
It is a terrible routine to establish and it is not good for your mental health
People my age seemed to think it made them better employees but they were wrong
Good luck on your exercise plan. The physical activity will also help your mental health
Totally NTA. I used to go on nice long walks during my “lunch” break. I would snack a little during quieter times, but my shifts were 8 – 12 hours long and almost all sitting. So I would enjoy my break with a nice long power walk. Never was late returning and no one would have cared if they saw me several blocks away enjoying my walk.
Your time is your time. If you need to work during your break to get your assigned work done, then there is another issue. Either, you need to work on efficiency, or management need to work on hiring and training.
Nope. NTA. Your co-workers can take a long walk off a short pier with that awful, unhealthy, capitalist worker bee advice. They can also take a slow stroll to the cardiologist office at 45 when they finally arrive to their first (or second or third) stress induced heart attack. But answering those emails sure was worth it!
People who think you are wrong for taking a walk on your lunch break (when your work is done and it has no affect on them at all) are the same people who lament their lives at the end, having sacrificed their health and their time and their joy for a boss who never noticed and a job that never mattered.
Walk on friend.
NTA. Please take the walk. I say that as a manager who works through my lunch breaks all the time. I keep telling myself I’m going to go for a walk and I don’t. Just tell them that you work efficiently enough to not need to work on your lunch break.
NTA- but your coworkers are. But walking and trying to improve your health you are more likely to minimize how much work you miss due to illness. That’s why some places will encourage employee health.
You’re NTA but your co-workers sound like cockheads to me…
NTA. Everyone needs a break and I think this is an excellent way to use it.
Unpaid or paid, you get a one hour break for lunch and it’s entirely reasonable to use that to eat a leisurely lunch at your desk, go out for lunch, run errands, go for a walk, etc. NTA.
Nta. As a millennial my breaks are precious, I don’t do work on any break thay is their choice.
So op can go around telling other people how the have to use their lunch hour?
I’m close to 50 and I say it’s your lunch, so do what you want. It could be running errands or shopping. Doesn’t matter as long as it’s what you WANT to do.
Don’t give in to the workaholic culture. It’s work, you get it done and go home, you shouldn’t want to live there.
Your lunch time is absolutely yours and going for a walk is a great way to stave off the afternoon nap needs that often happen after food and being sedate.
I am probably older than your parents and I have to say that I left my desk for the most part during lunches. Or at least, if I did eat at my desk, I wasn’t working, and I would only take calls if I was the only person there.
What you do on your lunch break isn’t their business. If the culture is to work through lunches (ick), then how toxic!
Honestly they’re probably just mad because they didn’t have the guts to break the norm of giving free labor during lunch hour.
NTA Actually exercise can break up the mental monotony of work. Recharging your brain power to get through the day. Also there is no rule that your lunch break has to be lunch only.
NTA
I have a friend who takes walks outside for her lunch break. If the weather isn’t great, she walks up and down the hall. No one says a thing. Why? Because we are all adults who don’t let stupid stuff like people walking in the parking lot or hallway bother us.
Lmao at those idiot coworkers who don’t value cardiovascular health. They’ll have wished they took the walks when they have high cholesterol, etc.
NTA. I’m curious why your coworker thinks you don’t get to take a break on your break.