how to tell my boss about coworkers that take long lunches?

Question

Three of my coworkers all go out to lunch together and instead of them taking a one hour lunch, they take one and a half hours or close to two hours. How do I bring this up to my boss without making myself look bad?

Answer 1

I would definately say something-I bet they get paid good money & they will make your whole department (including you) look bad.

Well if you mention it to your boss, just let him know how it is effecting you & your workload

If it doesn't effect your workload simply state that you are concerned about how this will reflect upon your department and the way others might see it. it will appear as though you all are not working very hard because i am sure others notice as well.

However your boss might be offended by you mentioning it - Afterall, he should really be the one to notice these things..maybe he is lazy too. Then you will be stuck working with a bunch of lazys who know you are watching them - maybe you should just stay busy, work hard & when you want to take long breaks,,,Take one -heck if you can't beat em-join em!

Answer 2

Yikes! That's a tricky one.

If you were to tell you boss in confidence would he tell the others? If you told him that it's difficult for you when the others leave for hours at a time, and you don't like seeing the company waste money, he would probably appreciate the fact that you told him.

However if the others found out that you told, you will be made an outcast. Hopefully they will get caught on their own.

You could casually mention that they are on their lunch when they first leave. Then hours later, casually mention that they're not back from lunch yet (and look at your watch). You're boss should draw his own conclusions.

Answer 3

Hmm ... very easy actually.

1. DONT bring it up ... make him notice himself!

You need to somehow put some attention on them without looking like you do it on purpose.

example 1) Right when they leave .. if you see your boss you ask if he has seen one of them for example (leave time) and then in two hours (return time) you ask if he has seen them again ...

# 2) send them a work email right when they leave and then again right before they get back with your boss in the CC. make sure it involves him though and dont make it too obvious.

While most ppl on this forum might think this is unfair behaviour from your side ... I feel it isnt. Its freerider behaviour by your collegues cuz if everyone did it your boss wud notice and unfortunately in this world it is not possible to point to things anymore without being the bad person. so it has to be done discretly and in secret.

Answer 4

Do their long lunches affect your ability to do your job? Are you being forced to cover for them? Or are you just complaining out of annoyance and jealousy?

If they are affecting your ability to do your job, then a complaint is legitimate. However, if their duties are largely separate from yours, it's probably better to just ignore it, unless asked by your boss directly.

So assuming that they're affecting your workload or abillity to do your job, the best way of bringing it up to your boss would be to frame it in terms of "I feel frustrated that I'm not able to be more productive because I have to wait for (coworker) to (do their job)." Most bosses will ask for follow-up, and from there you could mention specifics.

Nobody likes a tattletale, but if their absence is affecting your performance, you have a legitimate gripe.

Answer 5

Been there done that
10 to 1 the boss already knows that they are doing the long lunch thing.
It is really hard but try to focus on your job. And not the ethics of others.
I have to keep telling myself that. The things that my coworkers get away with disturbs me to no end.
Keep telling yourself that you are doing your job and doing it well.
You keep doing what is right for yourself.

Answer 6

I think that happens at all work places ... at my work people will take 1 - 2 hour lunches and leave early everyday! I just dont say anything because i dont feel its any of my business ... im not paying them. I think that as much as it annoys you ... i wouldnt say anything ... if word somehow gets back to them ... you will look like a rat. Also, if they end up getting in trouble for it / or even fired for it ... you dont want that to be on your head.



Just leave it alone ... and hope your boss finds out sooner or later!


And ALSO .. what if your boss thinks your lieing ... or just trying get them in trouble ... i dont know! ... to me it seems like your just better off not saying anything.

Answer 7

do you sign for lunch?? if not you can suggest for that. We had similar problem at work , but i had healthy discussion with my boss and we started time-sheet. The result is they started to come back within time as they felt that someone is watching them.
Why dont you go with them? or try to go in 2-2 people's group so you wont be alone to feel that and always get one more person's support. ( the other person will realise soon that they takes long time.)

Answer 8

Does this affect you or your own workload? If it does you can point to this next time you're are asked to do something at a certain time.

I'll do it when X comes back from lunch.

(If it doesn't affect you then why do you have a problem- you will only cause grief)

Answer 9

If their absence is directly affecting your ability to get work done, then you should just tell your boss straight out. If they just like to be jerks and take long lunches, then just let it go.

Answer 10

Go up to him one day and pretend you are interested in something else, or have an unrelated question. Then mention your co-workers. Conversation will probably turn to them for a second, but immediately take advantage of it and say something like "Lately they've been taking lengthly lunch breaks. Don't see them around too much any more." That should take care of it.