elverly wrote:been told today by the rep the dom and the health and safety joker we have to take 20 mins break before we go out its the law is it? anyone
Yes
and
elverly wrote:and back to the question has royal mail broken the law for the past 12yrs of my employment
No
From the official government website.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10029451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rest breaks - a break during your working day
As an adult worker (over 18), you will normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you are expected to work 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 (
My Opinion is this includes the 20 minute statutory break so the extra 20/10 RM give us can be taken where you want)
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