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Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Newpoet
Posts: 49
Joined: 18 Apr 2021, 08:51
Gender: Male

Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by Newpoet »

Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
Last edited by Newpoet on 03 Aug 2026, 16:49, edited 2 times in total.
world class male
Posts: 901
Joined: 03 Jul 2013, 15:29
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by world class male »

they cannot make you start early, the 40 mins is to sync you into an older contract pattern pairing, 20min indoor break 20min clock out early.
if you choose to work your exact times then your partner will have to drive you back to clock out whilst you drive back out to carry on, but with the 20/30 mins turn around for nothing is only wasting time and fuel :left:
Newpoet
Posts: 49
Joined: 18 Apr 2021, 08:51
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by Newpoet »

world class male wrote:
Today, 16:45
they cannot make you start early, the 40 mins is to sync you into an older contract pattern pairing, 20min indoor break 20min clock out early.
if you choose to work your exact times then your partner will have to drive you back to clock out whilst you drive back out to carry on, but with the 20/30 mins turn around for nothing is only wasting time and fuel :left:
They said if we come in at the correct time we'll only get 33 hours pay
A2B
Posts: 1967
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by A2B »

Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
Someone else posted on here saying the same thing

. [
Amiga500 wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 19:15
ted_e_bear wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 16:39
Rve83ndxd wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 15:01
Amiga500 wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 10:06
So the new full timers have to start 40 minutes early at my office, is this a nation-wide thing as well?


Probably due to longer hours in the day, so longer breaks, to make everyone finish at the same time.


That sounds correct, finish at the official time would require starting 40 minutes earlier than someone on the same hours but on an "old" contract to account for the new contract person not having a paid break.


Unfortunately my manager didn't inform me this was a thing, before agreeing to FT. Word of warning then to any one considering going FT on the new contract, you may have to start going in at 6.30, as is the case for me. :sad:


b]
world class male
Posts: 901
Joined: 03 Jul 2013, 15:29
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by world class male »

they are trying to pillock you into finishing at the same time as older posties to make their lives easier,
yes if you don't mind starting early to finish early it suits both parties, but hey? :arrrghhh
reddevils
Posts: 83
Joined: 23 Nov 2018, 00:05
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by reddevils »

Yes it's correct unfortunately.
Your partner has paid breaks so his break time is counted towards his/her hours, yours isn't as it is an unpaid break.
It essentially means that your partner does 40 minutes less work because his/her break time is included in their
hours allocation
This means that you must do 40 minutes more work to fulfil 37 hours. There is no way round this.

As long as your manager isn't telling you to take a 40 minute break at the start of the shift, then it is perfectly legal
to do this.

It is unfair and I hope equalisation comes soon but it is completely legal . It is either this way or you would have to
work 40 minutes over at the end of the shift.
If I was you I'd prefer to do the 40 minutes in the morning.
SMS1969
Posts: 999
Joined: 28 Jun 2021, 11:36
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by SMS1969 »

Happening at our place, loads on early IP saving the company lots.
Newpoet
Posts: 49
Joined: 18 Apr 2021, 08:51
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by Newpoet »

A2B wrote:
Today, 16:57
Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
Someone else posted on here saying the same thing

. [
Amiga500 wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 19:15
ted_e_bear wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 16:39
Rve83ndxd wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 15:01
Amiga500 wrote:
29 Jul 2026, 10:06
So the new full timers have to start 40 minutes early at my office, is this a nation-wide thing as well?


Probably due to longer hours in the day, so longer breaks, to make everyone finish at the same time.


That sounds correct, finish at the official time would require starting 40 minutes earlier than someone on the same hours but on an "old" contract to account for the new contract person not having a paid break.


Unfortunately my manager didn't inform me this was a thing, before agreeing to FT. Word of warning then to any one considering going FT on the new contract, you may have to start going in at 6.30, as is the case for me. :sad:


b]

Thank you for sharing that. I did not see that!!
tramssirhc
Posts: 1758
Joined: 04 Sep 2012, 20:19
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by tramssirhc »

Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
The working time regulations states that an employee who works more than 6 hours must receive a 20 minute unpaid break during the working time which cannot be at the beginning or the end and must be away from the work. Do you take a 40 minute break before you commence your duty?
"The leadership will sabotage the fight and only make the slightest move under fear of powerful working class action" - Des Warren
Newpoet
Posts: 49
Joined: 18 Apr 2021, 08:51
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by Newpoet »

tramssirhc wrote:
Today, 19:08
Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
The working time regulations states that an employee who works more than 6 hours must receive a 20 minute unpaid break during the working time which cannot be at the beginning or the end and must be away from the work. Do you take a 40 minute break before you commence your duty?
No, definitely not. We take 20 half way through and then finish 20 minutes before time as the original contract do
tramssirhc
Posts: 1758
Joined: 04 Sep 2012, 20:19
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by tramssirhc »

reddevils wrote:
Today, 17:06
Yes it's correct unfortunately.
Your partner has paid breaks so his break time is counted towards his/her hours, yours isn't as it is an unpaid break.
It essentially means that your partner does 40 minutes less work because his/her break time is included in their
hours allocation
This means that you must do 40 minutes more work to fulfil 37 hours. There is no way round this.

As long as your manager isn't telling you to take a 40 minute break at the start of the shift, then it is perfectly legal
to do this.

It is unfair and I hope equalisation comes soon but it is completely legal . It is either this way or you would have to
work 40 minutes over at the end of the shift.
If I was you I'd prefer to do the 40 minutes in the morning.
That's not correct. Under the wtr an employee must receive a 20 minute break, which can be unpaid, if they work over 6 hours and the break must be away from the work. However this is 40 minutes which is more than the law requires. It would be reasonable to argue that it has to be continuous and cannot be split into two with one part at the end of the duty. The national agreement for the paid breaks does state that it cannot be taken at the end of the duty. Some workplaces do have a 40 minute break before the outdoor element. However the national agreement has been amended, without national agreement, allowing some workplaces to take the 20 minute break at the end.
"The leadership will sabotage the fight and only make the slightest move under fear of powerful working class action" - Des Warren
tramssirhc
Posts: 1758
Joined: 04 Sep 2012, 20:19
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by tramssirhc »

Newpoet wrote:
Today, 19:09
tramssirhc wrote:
Today, 19:08
Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
The working time regulations states that an employee who works more than 6 hours must receive a 20 minute unpaid break during the working time which cannot be at the beginning or the end and must be away from the work. Do you take a 40 minute break before you commence your duty?
No, definitely not. We take 20 half way through and then finish 20 minutes before time as the original contract do
Wouldn't it be simpler to make your finish time the time the pre-22 contract finish for their 20 minute paid break?
"The leadership will sabotage the fight and only make the slightest move under fear of powerful working class action" - Des Warren
tramssirhc
Posts: 1758
Joined: 04 Sep 2012, 20:19
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by tramssirhc »

reddevils wrote:
Today, 17:06
Yes it's correct unfortunately.
Your partner has paid breaks so his break time is counted towards his/her hours, yours isn't as it is an unpaid break.
It essentially means that your partner does 40 minutes less work because his/her break time is included in their
hours allocation
This means that you must do 40 minutes more work to fulfil 37 hours. There is no way round this.

As long as your manager isn't telling you to take a 40 minute break at the start of the shift, then it is perfectly legal
to do this.

It is unfair and I hope equalisation comes soon but it is completely legal . It is either this way or you would have to
work 40 minutes over at the end of the shift.
If I was you I'd prefer to do the 40 minutes in the morning.
There is also the question of what constitutes 'working time'. The paid break at the end of duty is not working time.
"The leadership will sabotage the fight and only make the slightest move under fear of powerful working class action" - Des Warren
steve1873
Posts: 792
Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 13:55

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by steve1873 »

New contracts are paid a net of whatever their contract is and are expected to work those same hours, be it 39, 37 or 40.

"Legacy" contract staff can deduct the meal relief entitlement from their contracted hours to ascertain net hours worked.

How that is dealt with, I would assume would be done at a local level.

It is wrong and should never have been allowed to happen, but that is where we are at present.
tramssirhc
Posts: 1758
Joined: 04 Sep 2012, 20:19
Gender: Male

Re: Made to come in 40 minutes early to cover unpaid break

Post by tramssirhc »

Newpoet wrote:
Today, 19:09
tramssirhc wrote:
Today, 19:08
Newpoet wrote:
Today, 16:24
Does anyone else do this? It doesn't make sense I think.

We've been upgraded to 37 hours, but have to come in 40 minutes early to get the 37 paid. If we come in at normal time we'd be paid 33 hours ONLY.

Does this sound right?

All on the new contract
The working time regulations states that an employee who works more than 6 hours must receive a 20 minute unpaid break during the working time which cannot be at the beginning or the end and must be away from the work. Do you take a 40 minute break before you commence your duty?
No, definitely not. We take 20 half way through and then finish 20 minutes before time as the original contract do
I think the question is 'what constitutes working time'. The paid break for the pre-22 contracts is not working time.
"The leadership will sabotage the fight and only make the slightest move under fear of powerful working class action" - Des Warren