Outrage As Boss Asks Workers To Eat Lunch at Desk When CEO Visits

A Reddit post has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, after an employee posted an email from their manager.

In the post, user Flaky_Box7482, shared the email entitled, "Mondays meeting" in which their manager says "I just want to clear something up ahead of the quarterly lunch retro on Monday.

"I understand you're entitled to your lunch break and that's not the issue here. But the next time the CEO is in, can I ask you to please eat your lunch at your desk. Mark came down at 12:15 to meet the team. And it was really embarrassing explaining having to explain you were out for lunch.

"He didn't say anything, but I'm asking you to in the future to show a little more dedication towards your colleagues and the company. As I expect to know where my team are during working hours.

"Hope you have a great weekend :)."

The post has over 41 thousand likes and is captioned the post, "I never post here, but Jesus I have to share this little gem. Just checked my work emails and received this from my manager 5 minutes after I left the office. I honestly can't work out if she's having me on..."

In a Gallup study of more than 7,000 American adults, some 50 percent of people left a job to get away from a bad manager in order to improve their wellbeing.

Speaking to Newsweek, career expert from employment website Indeed, Scott Dobroski, said: "What employees want today is flexibility, including time to work and time to live their lives outside of work as well. This means finding the time, when they choose to eat their lunch as well as when to work. If employers try and dictate when and how employees take their lunch breaks, today's employees will likely look for another opportunity, and the employer will lose out on talent in a very tight labor market when hiring is already a challenge."

According to the Indeed Work Wellbeing 2022 Insights Report, measuring and understanding employee wellbeing is becoming vital to attracting and retaining talent and "90 percent of people believe that how we feel at work matters."

They also report that 46 percent of people say "their expectation around happiness at work has increased in just the last year."

Dobroski added: "For employees, setting boundaries at work can play an important role in increasing productivity and satisfaction, reducing stress and the risk of burnout, and also sets an example for others. If you find yourself in a situation where you are seeking more flexibility, or need to set a boundary for work hours, the best place to start is often with communicating your needs to your manager or HR.

"While there is no federal law that requires companies to offer breaks during work hours for meals or any other purpose, most states do have their own rest and lunch break laws. Regardless, it's important for employees to advocate for their work needs, whether it be taking a lunch break, or stepping away from the computer, to prioritize their psychological safety at work."

User BuggyWhipArmMF said, "Reply simply with "Lunch break is by definition not working hours."

User Patrik_js wrote, "Or 'I was not aware that our lunch breaks are paid?'"

FeelingDesecrator commented: "If that is the case, I'd like to speak with HR about owed back pay. Thanks."

Newsweek reached out to u/Flaky_Box7482 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.