Is my job allowed to make me eat lunch at the reception desk and hide it from visitors?
I started working at the reception desk in a small office about five weeks ago, and the training was extremely detailed about almost everything. There are written steps for every task, but no one explicitly explained what I'm supposed to do at lunchtime. Every time I ask, I get a slightly different answer.
Someone told me that everyone eats while they work. Honestly, I'd prefer to step away from the front desk and take a real break so I can switch off for a bit and maybe talk to my coworkers in the lunch area. But asking again has become embarrassing because they act as though eating at my desk is the obvious solution.
The problem is that my desk faces the entrance, so every visitor sees me as soon as they walk in. Management told me I could eat there, but I have to put my food away whenever a client arrives. They also told me not to bring any food with a smell that might linger in the office, although the only examples they gave were fish and reheated leftovers.
That alone limits when and what I can eat, but the owner schedules most client appointments between about 11:30 and 2:00. On some days, that means I take a few bites, hide everything, open the door, and then try to eat again ten minutes later. It doesn't feel like a break at all if I'm still expected to monitor the reception desk the entire time.
I'm still new and don't want to create tension over one issue, especially since I like the job and have been getting along with everyone so far. But still, are they allowed to control my lunchtime this way if it's supposed to be my personal break? Or is this just one of those strange workplace things that I'm expected to accept?