Office Worker Scolded for Eating Dinner During Work Hours... "Smokers Spend More Time Smoking"

It takes 20 minutes to eat, just like smoking
For 5 years before team transfer, had dinner 1 hour before leaving work

An office worker sparked controversy after being scolded by a superior for having dinner in the company cafeteria during working hours before leaving work, and retorting that "smokers spend more time smoking."

On the 3rd, an online community for office workers called 'Blind' posted a thread titled 'What do you think about eating dinner one hour before leaving work?'

A office worker was caught by their boss while having dinner in the company cafeteria before leaving work and got scolded. The worker retorted, "Smokers spend more time smoking," sparking controversy. The photo is unrelated to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Mr. A said, "The company’s working hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It takes about an hour to get to downtown Seoul by commuter bus, so I arrive home around 7:10 p.m." He added, "If I eat then, it’s too late, so I have dinner at 5 p.m., before leaving work." Having eaten dinner at 5 p.m. for the past five years, Mr. A was criticized for this behavior after transferring to a new team. He explained, "At first, I didn’t want to make excuses like ‘I’ve been eating at this time for the past five years,’ so I said okay and ate secretly. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to eat. Many other team members and assistant managers also come to the cafeteria."

He continued, "Today, I was caught again while eating, and the manager called me separately to the meeting room and said, ‘Why don’t you listen? Should I report this to higher-ups and make it a public issue?’ Feeling frustrated, I talked back."

Mr. A told his superior, "I don’t smoke. If you add up the time you spend going out to smoke, isn’t it more than mine?" He also said, "I eat within my meal ticket limit and spend less than 20 minutes. That doesn’t mean I’m not doing my work."

Furthermore, Mr. A stated, "Other team members and assistant managers also eat, and I ate like this in my previous team as well." He added, "If that’s the case, can’t we even take a short break to drink tea? Have I ever deliberately wasted time not working? Go ahead and make it a public issue. Then I will argue that smokers have less working time."

Mr. A posted a poll, saying, "If I ask the HR department, they will probably tell me not to eat during work hours. I’m angry about such strictness. I’ve seen the manager eat sometimes too. What do you think?"

As of 9 a.m. on the 6th, a total of 4,988 people participated in the poll. The results were △ Eating during work hours is not allowed: 54.8% (2,735 votes) △ It’s not allowed but tolerated: 28.1% (1,403 votes) △ Eating during work hours is okay: 17.1% (850 votes).

Netizens who read the post responded with comments such as "Eating openly during designated working hours is neglecting duties," "Usually, people get home after 7 p.m. and eat then," "It’s unfair to allow smoking breaks but not eating breaks during work hours," and "Smokers who take long breaks should also be criticized."

So-called 'smoke time' counts as 'working hours' if under supervisor’s direction and control

Meanwhile, when the government introduced the 52-hour workweek system in 2018, it specified that short breaks during work hours to smoke or buy coffee are included in working hours if the worker is under the employer’s direction or supervision, as these are considered waiting times.

Experts explain that one of the most important principles in determining whether a period counts as working hours is whether the worker is under the employer’s direction and supervision. According to Article 50, Paragraph 3 of the Labor Standards Act, waiting times during which the worker is under the employer’s direction and supervision are considered working hours. Even if a worker goes out to smoke, if they must return to work immediately when called by a supervisor, that time should be included as working hours.