#WorkplaceEtiquette #Coworkers #LunchtimeDilemma
So, here’s the scoop – I recently confessed to my coworkers that I prefer not to eat lunch with them, and ended up getting a talking-to from my boss about it. 🙈 Has anyone else been in a sticky situation like this before?
I thought it was better to be honest about how I felt, but now I’m second-guessing myself. 🤔 Why couldn’t my coworkers have just told me if they were bothered instead of acting so understanding, only for my boss to drop the bomb later on?!
Here are a few thoughts on what could be done in such a situation:
– Consider having a private conversation with your boss to understand their perspective and clarify the situation.
– If eating alone is not feasible, try suggesting alternate activities to bond with your coworkers that don’t revolve around lunch.
– Communicate openly with your coworkers about your preferences in a respectful manner to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.
Has anyone else experienced something similar at work? What did you do to handle it? Let’s help each other out! 💬 #WorkplaceDynamics #CommunicationSkills
I think it depends how you said it.
All in how you say it.
I Don’t enjoy eating in workplace break rooms or in front of other people is much better than “I don’t like eating with you people”
I wouldn’t reprimand you up for it, but I would have a chat about emotional intelligence and appearing to appeal to your coworkers as a means of advancement and masking any friction between you and them so that your life is easier and by extension my life.
I went through this in my last place. My break time is my break time and I like to be alone during it. I was also adamant that I don’t want my birthday celebrated either as I was new and have some anxiety of being the center of attention. Of course they did it anyways and I pretended to be happy. But I was pretty pissed about it. People need to respect people’s wishes with stuff like this. For me there was a very good reason I do not want it celebrated especially in the workplace with people I barely know.
Good riddance to that place though.
Wrong in this situation is subjective. Your boss believes you shouldn’t have been quite so honest with your co-workers, you don’t agree. You co-workers may have been genuinely understanding or they may have chosen not to tell you what they really think.
“Thank you for the invitation guys, the problem is that I get too shy/self conscious when I eat in front of other people. I am sorry, but I am still down to hang out with you after lunch” (Smile, a lot)
It is all a matter of how you express yourself.
Dude. You cant say that. It is not wrong wrong but of course they would feel hurt(they would think you dislike them if you say that so clearly to them). Usually I say Im sick so ill eat alone or i packed food and eat with them once a full moon or rarer than that.
It’s all in how you word it. I would literally say “I’m a goblin and I like eating alone while ruminating about my day, don’t take it personally and I hope you guys have a wonderful time.”
It’s always better to not say something that would come off as harsh or off putting like that.
Always try to find a diplomatic way to express things, like saying “I prefer to eat outside”, “I enjoy having my lunch {insert a location}”
People can take offense and harness unnecessary perception of you
The world is ruled by extroverts. It’s tiresome.
Let me guess your on spectrum
It’s your time off, you can spend it however you like.
That said, most people will take it personally if you aren’t careful. They don’t see it as you enjoying alone time, they see it as you not liking them specifically.
You can say something like, ‘I need that time to decompress’ or ‘I often eat alone and don’t think about it’s, etc.
If you work with a team that all eat lunch together on a regular basis, you may need to compromise every so often just to fit in somewhat. Not every day, but maybe once a week or something.
I had a coworker who never ate with us. He was like 65 and had no fucks left to give. He skipped retirement picnics, routine lunches, and employee appreciation events. He was always watching baseball on his computer wearing earbuds so we’d have to yell to get his attention. The manager was a coward and never told him this was unacceptable.
The moral of this story is you have to read the room. If you are senior enough to not give a fuck and your manager is a pussy, go ahead and give everyone the middle finger.
If you’re a younger bloke who wants to climb, people liking you is never a bad thing. How you achieve that is the hard part.
It’s weird anti-social behavior.
It’s your right to say what you prefer, and their right to say what they value from members of their team
I would coach you on how to expressed this… Because what they heard is “I don’t want to eat lunch with you “ instead of “I prefer to eat lunch on my own and get a little downtime to recharge”
You’re not wrong. Sometimes, I don’t want to be around my coworkers for lunch, which is most of the time. If we have a planned lunch as a group that is different. I don’t stay in the building. I either drive somewhere or go for a walk. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Your bosses perception is none of your business about why.
You’re not wrong. Sometimes, I don’t want to be around my coworkers for lunch, which is most of the time. If we have a planned lunch as a group that is different. I don’t stay in the building. I either drive somewhere or go for a walk. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Your bosses perception is none of your business about why.
You’re not wrong. Sometimes, I don’t want to be around my coworkers for lunch, which is most of the time. If we have a planned lunch as a group that is different. I don’t stay in the building. I either drive somewhere or go for a walk. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Your bosses perception is none of your business about why. I have to be at work for 8 hours in a building so if I can get an hour away. I’m going outside