I work in a hospital office which does project management on all construction in and around the facility. Every morning I don’t have an early meeting, I’ll take 10 minutes to run to the cafeteria, grab a ham, egg, and cheese biscuit (or on the days I’m feeling really healthy, a veggie omelet) and eat it while working at my desk.
On a few occasions, I have passed two of my co-workers – who I’m normally very friendly with – on the way from the elevator to my desk. Every time, they’ve pointed out the food in my hand, with the condescending tone of, “Ohhh, what do you have there? Breakfast, huh? Nice. That’s a pretty big omelet you’ve got there.”
What are they trying to say? It gives me the feeling that they’re relaying, “The rest of us don’t have time for breakfast. You shouldn’t get to eat either,” or “No one around here eats breakfast at work. Why are you being different?”
It makes me feel like a fat-ass, since “Agent Foxtrot gets to eat and we don’t.” At the same time, should I dial back the eating breakfast at my desk? I have time to go and grab breakfast since I make the time. It’s not my fault they don’t.
I have no idea why they are responding like that; they are acting as if you are, indeed, breaking a known rule that they don’t dare to.
So…is there a sign on the wall or something? 'cause if not, next time just say “Most important meal of the day!” as you walk by and shrug. 'cause I don’t get it, either.
People comment on food all the time. It’s very annoying. If you have a tough skin, just ignore the comments, or better yet, say in a bright voice, “Boy, you sure are interested in my breakfast! Did you not get any!” or “breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you know!” Or even “Yeah, I love omelettes!” Anything to let them know their comments don’t even register.
And yes you have time to go and eat breakfast because you make the time. Does your boss complain? If not, then who cares? if it makes you do your work better, by all means.
Do you have an office of your own or share space with others? Shared space raises a couple possibilities:
They object to the smell of your breakfast in their workspace. If you are tossing the containers and such in a wastecan by your desk the smell may linger all day.
You may be a loud eater without knowing it and your rattling of wrappings and chewing noises irritate them.
Some folks just don’t like people eating in a workspace for no really definable reason. I’ve worked in places where they provided a lunch room and that was the only place where it was okay to eat. Food at your desk would get you in trouble. One place even forbade water or coffee at desks.
If you can make time to run to the cafeteria and run back to your desk with the food, is there some reason to not just eat it in the cafeteria in the first place?
When people say stuff like that to me I just assume they’re socially retarded and are inexplicably compelled to say something, but can’t think of anything better to say.
If it’s not against the rules, and you aren’t excessively noisy, I don’t see any problem with it. I used to work 5am - 1pm when I was in the brokerage industry (west coast). That’s just way too early to eat breakfast for me. I ate at my desk around 6:30 every morning for years. Several other people did, too. It’s not weird to eat breakfast at work.
I would start responding with the “most important meal of the day” comment and never waiver from it. Say it every time. They’ll likely get over it.
In my government jobs, the understanding is that you show up for work ready to work. That generally includes having breakfast in your belly and coffee in-hand. There’s always the guy who shows up at 7:30 along with everyone else and then wants to walk down the street to grab something to eat (10 minutes), stand around bullshitting (10 minutes), and then sit down and eat while enjoying his coffee (10 minutes). That guy just got out of 30 minutes of work. Does he stay late to make up for it? Hah!
Taking a half dozen smoke breaks every day is starting to get the same reaction.
Meanwhile, in the private sector, people roll in at 9, go grab coffee and breakfast, get serious about work around 11 and then stay till 8 at night. So every office is different.
Agent Foxtrot, I think you are reading WAY too much into your co-workers comments. Unless there are other things that have been said that would support your feelings otherwise.
Just saying “Ohhh, what do you have there? Breakfast, huh? Nice. That’s a pretty big omelet you’ve got there.” Would not lead me to believe they are singleing you out. They are just making small talk.
Yep, it’s why I hate eating in public. Not out at a restaurant, which is OK, but out in the wild in a non-restaurant setting, I just hate it. In general, I DON’T have a tough skin, and I’m very fat, and I take every single comment on my food right to heart. Even innocuous or positive comments are seen as slights. Yeah, that’s my problem.