splitting breaks

[tigercat]

The line managers have told us to split our break into two. First half to be taken once we are bagged up and ready to go. The other half to be taken upon return to the office after delivery. No break is allowed during your delivery span. Are the managers trying it on as usual. Is there anything in writing regarding your meal break.

[Stormproof]

When we had this issue we had a vote. The majority voted for the whole 40mins before going out on delivery. We have 20 + 20 on a Saturday.

[POSTMAN]

You had a revision Tiger,where where the breaks then,what has the rep said about it.

Revision came in last October and its failing.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

The line managers have told us to split our break into two. First half to be taken once we are bagged up and ready to go. The other half to be taken upon return to the office after delivery. No break is allowed during your delivery span. Are the managers trying it on as usual. Is there anything in writing regarding your meal break.

What use is a break at the end of your delivery span? You need the break during deliveries to give your body a small recharge on these longer P&L walks!

[hans solo]

illegal to make you take break at end of shift they cant enforce this
you do have some rights

[TrueBlueTerrier]

illegal to make you take break at end of shift they cant enforce this
you do have some rights

I think the general feeling is that this is a grey area.

They can enforce the 20minute statutory break as long as its somewhere in the middle of your shift, but whether or not they can stop people taking it at the end of their working day, or instruct people to do so has not yet been tested. Anyone volunteering

[lovehunter]

Law states that break has to be taken during the working day, not at the end.... Obviously this can Only be bent if it suits u

[keithposty]

illegal to make you take break at end of shift they cant enforce this
you do have some rights

I think the general feeling is that this is a grey area.

They can enforce the 20minute statutory break as long as its somewhere in the middle of your shift, but whether or not they can stop people taking it at the end of their working day, or instruct people to do so has not yet been tested. Anyone volunteering

i will take this one

the working time regulations dictate a minimum of a 20 minute break if you are doing more than six hours work.
within royal mail we have a meal relief of 40 minutes, not 20-20, but 40. that is governed by custom and practice. the only way to change the 40 minute break is not by a manager saying so, but by a local agreement with the staff voting on it

The requirements are:

•the break must be in one block

•it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle

•you are allowed to spend it away from the place on your employer's premises where you work

•your employer can say when the break must be taken, as long as it meets these conditions


the regulations are the minimum requirements dictated by law, as i have stated, royal mail employees have a 40 minute break unless by a local agreement the staff vote different

I ARGUED THIS FOR 3 MONTHS AND THREATENED TAKING IT TO AN EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FOR IMPOSING A CHANGE OF CONDITIONS AS TO MY EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITHOUT CONSULTATION

it ended up with me in a meeting witrh senior royal mail officials doing an agreement

that agreement was

if any staff wanted to take 40 minute break in one go before they left the office then that was fine, if the partner objected then tough.
if any staff wanted a 20-20 break then that was fine
20 minutes off the end of the duty then fine but 40 minutes at the end of the duty a def no,no

[fishtank]

within royal mail we have a meal relief of 40 minutes, not 20-20, but 40. that is governed by custom and practice. the only way to change the 40 minute break is not by a manager saying so, but by a local agreement with the staff voting on it

It might be custom and practice in your office keith but it isn't throughout Royal Mail.
The Way Forward allows for split breaks,specifically mentions 20/20 and the use of 20 minutes at the end of your shift.
It has been "custom and practice" in many offices for many years.
The Working time directive only applies to a 20min break which must be in one block and as near as possible to the middle of your working day.

The important questions are where were the breaks positioned at the last revision,why have they been changed and why was there no staff/union involvement....nothing to do with dodgy,mostly ignored EU directives.

[keithposty]

the way forward does allow 20-20 breaks yes but the office crew still have to agree and vote on any changes

not royal mail managers dictate it

thats if your office has allways had a 40 minute break prior to delivery

to change it without opposistion would be custom and practice in royal mails favour after a short period of time

quote

The important questions are where were the breaks positioned at the last revision,why have they been changed and why was there no staff/union involvement


that i will agree on

[fishtank]

Splitting breaks is not a legal issue as long as 20mins remains around the middle of your working day.
Your breaks should be properly scheduled during the revision process which is an agreed process
Any change by management without agreement outside that process is executive action.
That is an IR issue and should be dealt with using the IR Framework.
It's then up to the members in that particular office what sanctions they want to take if management refuse to budge.

[keithposty]

totally agree on the above

[kawoxux]

Ignore them?

[Danelectro]

Splitting breaks is not a legal issue as long as 20mins remains around the middle of your working day.
Your breaks should be properly scheduled during the revision process which is an agreed process
Any change by management without agreement outside that process is executive action.
That is an IR issue and should be dealt with using the IR Framework.
It's then up to the members in that particular office what sanctions they want to take if management refuse to budge.

all this is true but taking the 40 mins at the end would win hands down in any vote in my office never mind 20/20 because 40 at the end and 40 in early is how my office works.....either fatigue is real or not-if it is real then there should be no problem Royal Mail enforcing the 40 before because this would apparently be beneficial to them......

[Stormproof]

This meal break issue really pisses me off. I know this is about splitting the breaks but.........
Of course management would rather you take your break at the end of your duty because they know its an extra 40 mins they can get you delivering. They know the muppets will run around to complete and not bother booking over for their breaks. As already stated you CANNOT have your break at the end of your shift. I really despair at people moaning about taking their breaks....you are lucky enough to be paid for it, so use it! What is the facsination of making 10 mins on the end of your duty when you've already given RM 40mins for free by not taking your break RM are saving £1000's because of idiots working breaks, coming in early, not doing the job properly, you are costing jobs and making everyone who does the job by the book look bad. <rant over>