. Did she actually yell at you? That’s just childish and unprofessional. I would have been very tempted to walk right there.
Our office receptionist gets the normal breaks. Other people in the office cover the front desk while she’s at lunch or needs a quick 5 minute break. We rotate weekly who has to cover the front desk during the receptionist’s breaks. Even our big boss (the dept head) takes his turn.
It is a unique position because there’s has to be someone at the front desk at all times. Even a pee break is too long to leave the reception area unattended.
Our receptionist unlocks the front doors in the morning, turns on the lights etc. Basically throws out the welcome mat for the days work.
What tesseract said about ten minute breaks in California (“monkeys know this”) makes me think mskatied’s employer probably doesn’t realize she’s not taking her breaks. If the practice is that entrenched, she shouldn’t have any problem, as long as she has someone to cover for her. That might be what her co-worker meant to convey – not that she was being cheated out of her breaks, but that she was cheating herself.
She could say something like “I didn’t understand I was supposed to take a couple of short breaks every day. I have someone to cover for me now, so everything’s cool.”
Read all of this. Thank you so much.
And thank you to all of you for the wonderful replies, I will keep you updated on what happens.
Auntie Pam- I think she knows because I asked her after that lunch fiasco (which I do admit was stupid of me but it was just the confusement of starting a new job) and all she said was “I will ask Shawn.” (our CEO) and never got back to me. And yes I am new, so true about working reception! I will let you know how it pans out with my cover.
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Enipla**- She wasn’t yelling but she might as well have been. Things have simmered down and I think I’ve gained a little more respect since then. Mama always said to kill them with kindness.
Left Hand of Dorkness- Thats what I have been doing. At first people have been giving me a lot of work to do which I actually enjoyed and I’m always asking for more work. It’s complicated because my boss works in Accounting which I don’t know much about, therefore she can’t give me much. But I will start asking more. Cheers to the good advice. I feel as though I haven’t been given them because there are moments where I am just sitting at my desk and not doing anything because no work has been given to me. But that shouldn’t count… I’m paid to sit by the phone.
handsomeharry- Sorry to offend you. But I’m really not. Not much was explained to me when I first got this job, which is the corporations mistake. I meant supervisor I was just not thinking properly. I was never told she was my supervisor. I’m new to the corporate world, a lil youngin’. I’ve been in the arts, which is a different world. Adjusting. Best wishes.
Crazy Cat Lady- Thats eye opening. I never looked at it like that. Thank you!!! You were correct about the lunches as well 
TubaDiva- Yes this is my real job. Everything else has been catalog modeling and volunteering and college. We all have to start somewhere, right? I’m just adjusting to this world. I appreciate your advice, I do infact love this job.