Meal relief

[london sub]

Got questioned today from my dom on why i kept on missing my lift to go out on delivery.

Well simple i take my meal break, and i don't purposely miss my lift to p*** off anybody within the office, but in the doms eyes this is probably what am exactly doing. I am entiltled as much as the next person that works next to me to take my break so the reason why the dom is getting cheesed off is because he or one of the other doms have to take me out on delivery, which of course wastes their time.

Thing is its not my problem but theirs to get me out the door...he went onto say that i should take my break 30 mins into working on the shop floor? Seems a bit to early for taking a break when i've just set foot in the work place. The dom also mentioned that i should tell him if am taking my meal break from now on...well i hate to say it but i take it mon-fri 100% of the time. Its like am back at school, "please sir can i go to the toilet"! He should know my routine by now, (prep, bundle, m/r, convey, delivery) so why has he clamped down the issue of taking a break.

As mentioned above about missing my lift, if those colleagues of mine would just take a break at the same time then i wouldn't be questioned.

[gb93]

Every duty has to have meal reliefs built into it,the times should be in the 318 duty sheet
if he persists to harrass you in your opinion you have agreed procedures open to you if you feel harrased and aggrieved you must make him aware that's the 1st step.
Harsh but true saying it on here won't stop him, You have a right to take a break.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

.he went onto say that i should take my break 30 mins into working on the shop floor? Seems a bit to early for taking a break when i've just set foot in the work place.

He is breaking the law if he enforces that:

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

[islfor]

you are not entitled to a part break or even full break (P/T only) until you have worked 2hrs 30mins.

[smelly_cat_lady]

Next time you have a 'convo' with the DOM make sure you're not alone. And don't be bullied

[Spedley]

I think the legal minimum is that you must take 20mins break after 5 hours.
That isn't the minimum entitlement, more that you MUST have 20mins after 5 hours.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think the legal minimum is that you must take 20mins break after 5 hours.
That isn't the minimum entitlement, more that you MUST have 20mins after 5 hours.

Nearly right:

its 6 hours not 5

and its during those 6 hours not after .

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
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

[Spedley]

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.

So part timers on a 30 hour contract, i.e. 6 hours per day don't have to have a break?

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Not by law, no...

But RM gives you breaks without pay deduction, unlike many companies out there, so...

[NewPostieUK]

So part timers on a 30 hour contract, i.e. 6 hours per day don't have to have a break?

Doesn't matter what contract you are on, it's the actual hours you work. If you are on one hour contract, but work 6, you should have a break.

[POSTMAN]

[coxie]

If your DOM says anything to you ask him why he is accomodating for people who don't have a meal relief instead of the people that are doing it properly. It should be the people who don't have a meal relief that make their own way to their duties and the drivers should be made to wait for people who have a meal relief.

[montriff]

Not by law, no...

But RM gives you breaks without pay deduction, unlike many companies out there, so...

yeah thats the next thing the RM and the Cwu will be taking off us