Mandatory lunch break in federal job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you choose to work through lunch at my agency, you don't get to leave half an hour early.

For the OP, do not bet on being able to leave early just because you choose not to eat lunch. There are rules and there is a reason to have them. For those of you who roll your eyes, you are lucky to work in a world where you can do that. The majority of the working world has these rules you find so petty.

In all my years working in the private sector, I've never heard of rules like this except for blue collar/factory punch-in-punch-out jobs, certainly not for a white collar job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes but not enforced.

They track every minute at my agency.
They don't actually make you take the break but they make sure you are actively logged into your computer for at least 8 hours and 30 minutes (and only pay for 8 hours). In other words... if you are only logged into the computer for 8 hours and you say you worked 8 hours that day... they that is considered timecard fraud because the mandatory lunch break means you only worked 7 hours and 30 minutes.

My agency is actually not allowed to do that in the CBA. Why would they? Not every moment of one's day is spent on a computer...meetings (and traveling to them), working with hard copies, etc. I get that for a data entry position, but that seems crazy for a professional position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the answers--I had no idea this was such a thorny issue. It seems like assuming a required 30 minute lunch is a safe bet. It makes things difficult as a parent when childcare is only 8am-6pm, it takes almost an hour to get to work, then can't leave until 5:30. I'd much rather bring my lunch and eat at my desk while working so I can leave at 5pm!

NP here. This is my pet peeve. Most people don't get much work done while they're eating. And in shared offices, it's horrible listening to other people eat at their desks. And if someone has to ask you a question, and you are eating, it's awkward.

So it's a lie when people say they aren't taking a lunch because they are eating at their desks. They're really just taking the lunch at their desks.

I'm not against, though, just giving people a paid 30-minute lunch. I think that is a perk that makes people more effective as employees. I also think people work better when they leave their desks to go to lunch and then come back.

[Anonymous]

I used to eat at my desk, then I stopped. Tired of being disturbed while I have food in my mouth.

Much rather go out or away from the office (break room) so I can have a real lunch.

[Anonymous]

Our break room is so depressing and I hate having to sort of talk to everyone coming in to get or heat up their lunch that I'd rather eat at my desk.