Manager insists on scheduling meeting during lunch, employee retaliates by bringing messy food: 'By noon I'm genuinely hungry'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jan 21, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Messing with employee breaktimes is the management equivalent of playing with fire.

There are times when it is necessary and even helpful to shake up routine when it comes to the times of day that people get to unwind and eat. However, it is rarely that much of a big deal that there can't be some flexibility around it. Most workers need that small part of the day to themselves to be able to perform at the level that is expected of them. Start making changes that endanger that, and they are not going to be happy.

A manager on a power trip is always going to make some enemies among those who work for them, and if they try to prove themselves by moving around breaktime privileges, that guarantee gets even stronger. Hangry people are not people who are pleasant to work with, so ensuring that an employee skips a meal is almost always more about manipulation than productivity. It is one of the benefits of having strict rules around working hours, although that is not so popular in this era of hybrid working and flexible schedules. From an employee's point of view, the best that can be done is communicating personal boundaries and breaktimes clearly. 

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  • a black and white photo of a glass door with a sign that says 'meeting room' on it
    via 2H Media

  • This became an issue for one worker when, after two years of working for a company, he faced a new manager who was pushy about making an impact. One of the changes he introduced was frequently scheduling meetings around lunchtime hours, despite the fact that the employee had had 12 PM to 1 PM blocked off on his calendar for lunch since he first started at the job.

    Despite politely requesting that he move the meeting as that was the time that he ate, his supervisor refused and insisted that it was a necessary sacrifice. The employee didn't eat breakfast, so he felt this lunchbreak was crucial, and he was considering bringing distracting and messy food to his next lunch meeting to retaliate.

  • Would I be wrong if I started eating messy food on camera during meetings my boss keeps scheduling over my lunch?

    I take my lunch at the same time every day from 12 to 1. I dont eat breakfast just coffee so by noon Im genuinely hungry and I need that hour to actually eat something and reset before the afternoon.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • Ive had my calendar blocked for that time since I started this job two years ago and it was never an issue until recently.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • A few months ago we got a new manager. He got promoted internally and immediately started acting like he had something to prove.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • Scheduling extra check ins moving deadlines around just general power trip stuff. But the thing thats been driving me crazy is he keeps putting meetings right in the middle of my lunch block.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • The first couple times I let it slide and figured maybe he didnt notice or it was actually urgent.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • a man smiles as he perches on a table and looks at his open laptop while eating chinese takeout
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I skipped eating and just dealt with it. But then it kept happening week after week.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • I finally messaged him and politely pointed out that the time slot was blocked for my lunch and asked if we could move the meeting.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • He responded saying we all have to make sacrifices sometimes. That really pissed me off. Its not like Im asking for anything unreasonable.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • Its a lunch break. One hour. And my calendar clearly shows its blocked. If he wants to schedule meetings during my lunch then fine.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • Im going to eat my lunch during the meetings. And not like a quiet granola bar.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • Im talking spaghetti. Wings. Stuff that requires napkins. Camera on mic unmuted just sitting there eating while the meeting happens around me.
    via Lopsided_Turnover_32
  • a man in a suit gestures as he talks to two other people sat at a table with him, with coffee cups and papers on the table
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Electrical-Beyond688 Technically you could go to HR but lets be honest that probably wont do much except make things awkward. Eating your lunch during a meeting thats scheduled during your lunch is honestly just logical. Youre not being disruptive youre just eating when you normally would
    via Electrical-Beyond688
  • OddImprovement6490 You should just decline the meeting and reschedule.
    via OddImprovement6490
  • lun4d0r4 If he schedules over your lunch hour, you push everything else back by 1 hour and have lunch after. Or just decline the meeting invite. You don't get paid for your lunch break so he has no right to prevent you from taking it (they can however impact WHEN you take it).
    via lun4d0r4
  • Heykurat I mean...isn't this illegal? You're supposed to be entitled to a lunch break of uninterrupted, non-work time.
    via Heykurat
  • JaBa24 Unless it's a last minute unexpected meeting- can't you just eat the hour directly before or after the meeting?
    via JaBa24
  • Outspoken_Idiot Snack quietly and take the hour back at the end of the day, a simple the management want to schedule the meeting at lunchtimr so I worked through and finished early, I just moved my required break period to end of working day to allow food preparation for dinner.
    via Outspoken_Idiot
  • Existing-Secret7703 If everybody in the meetings take their lunch breaks at different times and they've each blocked off their calendars accordingly, when do you expect your manager to hold the meetings? 9am and 5pm would clearly avoid anyone's lunch hour (unless your team is global- when I worked, we included our Sydney and London teams so the timing was all over the place for team members). Perhaps change your lunch hour or turn off your camera while you're eating, or just don't eat messy lunc
    via Existing-Secret7703
  • IOORYZ I would block an extra hour a day (1 till 2) and pick one hour for lunch and one for other work and his meetings.
    via IOORYZ
  • Techsupportvictim Is this an unpaid break? If so then he legally can't make you work. So that's an HR concern. If it's paid, is it still within legal requirements, union (if applicable), contract (if applicable) etc.
    via Techsupportvictim
  • MinaWearsGold I actually don't think you should do this because then you're being made to work during your lunch time. If you have to go to the meetings, I'd take your lunch before or after, whenever is more comfortable for YOU because they basically forced your hand. But you shouldn't give them the idea that it's okay to make you work during your lunch break.
    via MinaWearsGold

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employee manager meeting work lunch workplace food entitled people
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