People who go and sit in their car to eat their luncheon at work
- Thread starter rubberduck
- Start date
I used to do it when I worked in retail as the staff room was just dreary and depressing with no natural light, much nicer to lay back in a nice comfy seat with the radio on and just chill out.
Plus there would usually be at least one miserable sod moaning about what hes reading in the Daily Mail / Sun so the choice between that and a slightly cold car for a few mins was pretty easy.
Plus there would usually be at least one miserable sod moaning about what hes reading in the Daily Mail / Sun so the choice between that and a slightly cold car for a few mins was pretty easy.
"Hey could you.... ah I'll come back if you're eating your lunch" <stands there looking for you to say it's fine>
"I really need something and it's really quick"
<phone rings> <coworkers phone rings> "yeah he's at his desk..." <desk phone rings again>
"Hey did you get that thing finished"
I work in an environment that has zero respect for your personal time. Granted we do have a huge canteen but no one I know uses it, plus lunchtime I can get chores accomplished if I feel like it or just call mates and talk freely.
"I really need something and it's really quick"
<phone rings> <coworkers phone rings> "yeah he's at his desk..." <desk phone rings again>
"Hey did you get that thing finished"
I work in an environment that has zero respect for your personal time. Granted we do have a huge canteen but no one I know uses it, plus lunchtime I can get chores accomplished if I feel like it or just call mates and talk freely.
I don't do it at work, but whenever I take my father to the hospital for an appointment I'll sit in the car in the carpark with a couple of soft drinks*, and listen to some music whilst reading/napping.
It's one of the few times I can listen to music without having to wear headphones and be uninterrupted by the computer/family for any length of time
So I can see exactly why people might do it at work, it could be their only chance during the working day to simply relax and not have to be sociable (especially if they work with people they may find hard to get along with).
*I learned long ago to take a good supply of drinks, as my dad's appointments can last anything from an hour to 6+ hours with no indication of how long (as it's the eye clinic and he usually sees a consultant who is on call for A&E if there are any eye emergencies/injuries it can delay things for hours, I think the longest was about 8 hours).
How far away is this eye hospital? If it meant sitting in the car for hours would it not be better to drop him off and go back and pick him up when done?
Sitting having your lunch hour in your car is one thing but sitting waiting for 6+ hours must be pure hell and soul destroying.
It's about 45 minutes away, normally it's under 2 hours for the appointment but I've been taking him several times a year for the last ~20 years (even when he drove he couldn't drive himself as they do eyedrops that can affect the eye for hours), and it's completely unpredictable how long he'll be.
To give an idea of how variable it it, I've dropped him off and had him out 30-45 minutes later (first person there for a routine check), but normally it's 2-2.5 hours and i'd spend 90+ minutes doing the round trip home*.
Hence I'll take a book, a snack and get comfortable
(often I'll also take some paperwork I need to do or the rules for wagames).
If it looks like it's going to be a long delay he'll usually pop out and let me know so I can potentially head to the shops or whatever, but the 6+ hour one was a case of no one knowing how long the delay would be, and no mobile (going back 15+ years), so I couldn't really head home, and there was no point in going into the town centre (which had nothing to do), so get comfy in the car with the odd walk around. If I know it'll be 4+ hours I'll head home but anything less than that and it's either find something to do in the town centre (nothing much during the day
) or spend most of it comfy in the car rather than spend an extra 90+ minutes driving.
It's actually quite relaxing as I like reading (if it's a good book I can lose hours) and have always been able to doze off in the car, although in that long delay case I will admit I was getting very bored.
Never underestimate how nice it can be to have the chance (and excuse) to sit quietly with no interruptions for a few hours with a good book.
*Due to some problems he's been in 4 times in the last couple of months, a normal ~90-120 minute appointment, a planned all day one (I headed home and went back out about 6 hours later), and one where he was in for only 45 minutes.
To give an idea of how variable it it, I've dropped him off and had him out 30-45 minutes later (first person there for a routine check), but normally it's 2-2.5 hours and i'd spend 90+ minutes doing the round trip home*.
Hence I'll take a book, a snack and get comfortable
(often I'll also take some paperwork I need to do or the rules for wagames).If it looks like it's going to be a long delay he'll usually pop out and let me know so I can potentially head to the shops or whatever, but the 6+ hour one was a case of no one knowing how long the delay would be, and no mobile (going back 15+ years), so I couldn't really head home, and there was no point in going into the town centre (which had nothing to do), so get comfy in the car with the odd walk around. If I know it'll be 4+ hours I'll head home
but anything less than that and it's either find something to do in the town centre (nothing much during the day) or spend most of it comfy in the car rather than spend an extra 90+ minutes driving.It's actually quite relaxing as I like reading (if it's a good book I can lose hours) and have always been able to doze off in the car, although in that long delay case I will admit I was getting very bored.
Never underestimate how nice it can be to have the chance (and excuse) to sit quietly with no interruptions for a few hours with a good book.
*Due to some problems he's been in 4 times in the last couple of months, a normal ~90-120 minute appointment, a planned all day one (I headed home and went back out about 6 hours later), and one where he was in for only 45 minutes.
Caporegime
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If I worked with you I'd also eat anywhere else.
(I'm lying btw, I imagine it must be quite the jolly working with you, I have a mental image of you being the cat in the hat)
(I'm lying btw, I imagine it must be quite the jolly working with you, I have a mental image of you being the cat in the hat)
I've considered doing this myself as there is nowhere to go at lunchtime in my office. The kitchen area is standing only, but overlooks the car park, so it would be a bit weird my colleagues looking down at me, and me looking up at them. It would be nicer if the car was parked somewhere with a bit of privacy.
Don
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I used to do this when I worked for a company I didn't really like working for. It was a change of scenery from a very dull set of colleagues. I would turn on the radio, listen to Colin and Edith (dates it a bit!), browse on my phone, eat my lunch and have some time to myself.
I would also often sit in the passenger seat because of the extra space.
I expect the person is either an introvert, or just does not feel comfy or able to relax with their colleagues.
I would also often sit in the passenger seat because of the extra space.
I expect the person is either an introvert, or just does not feel comfy or able to relax with their colleagues.
I wish the people who bring incredibly stinky lunches to work would do this.
But no, those guys like to get it out, spread it all over the table, and make sure it's in your face as much as possible.
Often leaving entire rooms uninhabitable
You know who you are.
It's usually those who love pickled onion and salt and vinegar crisps. Which the greasy smell is over the keyboard and mouse.
When I was in the UK, I had a 25 year old guy that worked for me that did this.
When I casually asked him why he reasoned that he did not consider anyone that worked in the office to be a friend of his, and he would not choose outside of his contract to be with them. He hated the idea of being in a forced environment of a canteen etc where he would be under some element of social pressure to communicate and talk etc.
I guess he just decided to cut this scenario out of the equation for him.
When I casually asked him why he reasoned that he did not consider anyone that worked in the office to be a friend of his, and he would not choose outside of his contract to be with them. He hated the idea of being in a forced environment of a canteen etc where he would be under some element of social pressure to communicate and talk etc.
I guess he just decided to cut this scenario out of the equation for him.
i think some do it because they find social situations stressful ,i am pretty socially awkward and i sit on the same very big table with roughly the same crowd ,when only the 4 seater tables are left i hate joining a group i dont know or dont normally talk to . (breaks have no fixed times where i work)
I used to do it and it's not really odd and I'm not sure why someone why find it so.
Sometimes people just want time away from a work environment, listen to their radio station, makes a few calls, sort crap out or just eat in peace.
For me personally who worked in a high stress environment at the time it was a way of getting a timeout for 30 mins, where I listened to some relaxing music or similar, perhaps think about some of the issues of the day and how to sort them or just get away from having to sit with people I didnt really like but had to work with.
Sometimes people just want time away from a work environment, listen to their radio station, makes a few calls, sort crap out or just eat in peace.
For me personally who worked in a high stress environment at the time it was a way of getting a timeout for 30 mins, where I listened to some relaxing music or similar, perhaps think about some of the issues of the day and how to sort them or just get away from having to sit with people I didnt really like but had to work with.
I get exactly the same thing, we have a rec room next to our office that no one uses a lot so I go and read a book on there on my break. However it's windowed, people walk past and still get the inevitable..."sorry, can see your on your break, want me to come back...", replied with "yes please" and then still get the short run down of the issue regardless.
Granted I do planning work and it's reactive all day long and people normally need quick answers, however I get 45 minutes a day break, of which I only take 30 minutes as don't have time for the full break so leave me alone. I am at the point now where i'm considering going to sit in my car as it's the only true peace I actually will get on break time.
I know a lot of people socialise on breaks but I barely get 5 minutes before having to talk to the next person about the next issue every day, all day so that peace is sacred.
When I get home i've got a 2 year old running around like a madman so no peace there either.