Can a Dim tell me to have break b4 I go out

[pizz_flap]

I can see it copming but can they do it. I am part timer so 30 mins break.

Today I cut off cos no time for lapsing but was hanging about inda morno for about 30 mins so I reckon its his next move.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

At my place the Rep was instructed to take part of his break before going out on delivery from which he was cutting off. He quoted "Custom and Practice" and refused. Other things happened after so it depends on how far you want to take it.

[POSTMAN]

They can force you under h&s.

[resperin]

cant see it happening. theyre trying to get people done for willfull delay/cut pay etc for cutting off, its easier for them to make out your finishing early if you finish before official time

[pizz_flap]

If he had said this morno take a break b4 going out i could have done the lasping tho.


Also what is custom Practice I like the sound of that?

[ldsposti]

well the h & s states that breaks should be taken in your working hours not at the start or end of your working day, with people saying they are taking at the end of thier duty it's just another way of cutting corners, the union should be backing taking your break in working hours, at the end of the day with people coming in early, using cars on delivery, prepping d2d in your own time how many duties have we lost, you cannot have it both ways so take your break in your duty, stop using cars, stop coming in early, and stop prepping d2d in your own time or face the fact if this continues more dutie will be lost.

[pizz_flap]

well the h & s states that breaks should be taken in your working hours not at the start or end of your working day, with people saying they are taking at the end of thier duty it's just another way of cutting corners, the union should be backing taking your break in working hours, at the end of the day with people coming in early, using cars on delivery, prepping d2d in your own time how many duties have we lost, you cannot have it both ways so take your break in your duty, stop using cars, stop coming in early, and stop prepping d2d in your own time or face the fact if this continues more dutie will be lost.

Thats what i thought as I once was aware of the cant work 4 hours without abreak rule. So if I was an 8 hour full timer and had to have break b4 going out then its more than 4 hours without a break. Although as part timer it will make no odds. Not sure if that still stands or not just hate giving free work

[POSTMAN]

Also what is custom Practice I like the sound of that?

"if it has become the norm over a significant period of time"

For instance,you have always had your break at a certain time,management throw a strop and try to change it,you say bollox it's always been 'Custom and Practice' that we have our breaks then.

[guvenor]

if they force u to take break i would insist everyone in office is treated same
wait and see your dom s face when they try and tell rural drivers to take breaks
if they disagree i would put in grevience on grounds of discrimination and victimisation
especially if other staff are putting in ot to cover lapsed walks
amazingly mgmt quite happy to encourage otime on lapsed walks but not cut offs

[deltaforce]

Its a statutory requirement that you take a minimum of 20 mins break within 6 hours of starting your shift. this comes under a EEC directive..meaning that its the law of the land. It s not a RM diktat

[Fluke]

Part of the single daily delivery agreement says that post men can plan their own breaks, providing it doest impact upon Q&S.

[deltaforce]

Subject to the afore mentioned statutory requirement...look it up!

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Its a statutory requirement that you take a minimum of 20 mins break within 6 hours of starting your shift. this comes under a EEC directive..meaning that its the law of the land. It s not a RM diktat

sorry but thats rubbish, there is no statutory requirement that you take a break in the circumstances you describe, there is no requirement that you must take a break, royal mail must provide you the oppertunity to do so but if you decide not to the there is no law against it and also legally if you worked a nine hour shift and you were given 20 minute break after 7 hours it would be in compliance with the legislation

from the open gov website

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10029451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How much break time do you get?
The amount of break time you get is usually agreed with your employer. It may be written down somewhere (eg in your contract of employment) or might just be part of your employer's standard practice.

Your employer must give you at least the rest breaks required by the Working Time Regulations. They must also ensure that your health and safety is not put at risk. This means that your employer might have to give you more than the amount set out in the regulations, if this reduces a health and safety risk.


Employers' health and safety responsibilities Young workers
If you are under 18 but over 'school leaving age', you are classed as a young worker and have different break allowances to adult workers. You are under school leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which you turn 16.

Young workers and working hours (young people section) Rest breaks - a break during your working day

If you are an adult worker (that is, over 18), you will normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you are expected to work for more than six hours at a stretch.

A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment. There is no statutory right to 'smoking breaks'.

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

[TrueBlueTerrier]

There can be a bit of confusion over this break thing as per the YouGov website it says 2 conflicting things:

your employer can say when the break must be taken,

&

Do you have to take your breaks?

It is recommended that you take your rest breaks. They are there to protect your health and safety and you are entitled to them.

SO in effect, if I read it correctly - they can tell you to take breaks at specific times but its up to you if you take the break.

Not sure how it would be if you refused their set time and wanted to take one at another time of your choosing. But if you did not take a break that day not sure if they would have a leg to stand on.

Anyway my suggestion would be take a break before going out anyway, and if you do this at the same time every day then this is the "Custom and Practice" I was referring to.

[Fluke]

This is what the SDD agreement says on the subject.

f) Providing meal break/working time regulation rules are observed, employees will have the flexibility to plan the timing and location of their meal breaks. This flexibility also extends to the ability to have a refreshment break prior going out on delivery as long as it does not compromise the office workplan. Where deliveries are completed within the agreed office workplan then employees will be allowed to pouch off without returning to the office.

In my office they wanted people to have their break whilst waiting for the mis-sort run to come in. We shoved this under their noses and told them to fcuk off and the subject has never been raised since.