Is it rude to book a meeting over someone's lunch break?
Guilty
The short answer
Booking over the usual lunch hour is rude unless everyone agreed or food is provided. Calling it a working lunch does not make it one.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-05058
The coworker who misses lunch v. The colleague who books the meetings
Filed 10/07/2026
- Plaintiff
- The coworker who misses lunch
- Defendant
- The colleague who books the meetings
Statement of claim
My colleague booked a recurring 12:30 sync every day this month and called it a working lunch. There is no lunch. My calendar was empty at 2 every single day.
Charge
Recurring occupation of the lunch hour under the name working lunch, without lunch
Judgment
Guilty
Colleague found guilty of a daily working lunch with no lunch
Sentence
The recurring meeting moves to 2:00. If it stays at 12:30 for any reason, the defendant brings sandwiches.
How the court usually rules on this
The court only hears the etiquette side of workplace disputes, never anything about pay or anyone's job. On lunch meetings it asks two things: whether there was another free slot, and whether the meeting really needed that hour. A one-off is forgiven. A recurring invite over lunch, with no food, is usually found guilty.
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