Split Breaks

[Eric Cantona]

Soon our office is going into the new revision times. What I would like to know is what are the break times for other offices around the country? We are going to start at 6.30 am and we have got to take our full 40 minutes break at 8 20am before we go out then work right through till 2.30pm, saying that the drivers have been told they can take their break at the end of the shift due to the times of the special deliveries they deliver.
I Know its legal looking at Direct.gov.uk but just wondering is all other offices following suit or is it our DOM just been silly?

[ihatedogs]

Soon our office is going into the new revision times. What I would like to know is what are the break times for other offices around the country? We are going to start at 6.30 am and we have got to take our full 40 minutes break at 8 20am before we go out then work right through till 2.30pm, saying that the drivers have been told they can take their break at the end of the shift due to the times of the special deliveries they deliver.
I Know its legal looking at Direct.gov.uk but just wondering is all other offices following suit or is it our DOM just been silly?

From direct.gov.uk
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

reading that, split breaks don`t appear to be legal and your drivers shouldn`t be finishing on their break.

[Listonosz]

Don't quote me on this but if you're taking your full 40 minute break then it has to be in the middle of your shift, not at 820a.m. And even though we do no-one, not even drivers are allowed to have their break at the end of the shift.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Sorry, that does not comply with UK law... Full timers starting at 0630 need to be taking at least 20 minutes break around 1030.

[Stormproof]

We were a 20+20 office up until a couple of weeks ago, we now take our full 40mins at 9am, Wetherspoons are doing a roaring trade in fry ups now everyone has time to eat, others pop into town and do a few chores

[gerardy]

I thought under H&S that you are not allowed to work for more than 4 hours without a break

[Eric Cantona]

I thought under H&S that you are not allowed to work for more than 4 hours without a break

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this but I need as much info from other offices in what kind of pattern they take their breaks.
In the direct.gov.com website it states > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle.Yet in my office from starting at 6.30 am till 2.30 pm they want you to take your break at 8.20 am knowing full well idiots will work through it. 8 20.am is not middle in my calculations. Now I am hearing the DOM has told the drivers they can take their break at the end but direct.go.uk says > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day. Seems my office is clearly defying the rules.
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

[Eric Cantona]

I thought under H&S that you are not allowed to work for more than 4 hours without a break

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.

[daveyeff]

Don't quote me on this but if you're taking your full 40 minute break then it has to be in the middle of your shift, not at 820a.m. And even though we do no-one, not even drivers are allowed to have their break at the end of the shift.

its done at our office. we have 20 mins from 8.00am, then we work til 14.45, then the remainder of your break is from then, 20mins til 15.05 finish. i dont agree with it, i would rather have my full 40mins in the middle of the shift, but it suits the dom and the union rep persuaded staff to vote the fekker in. dam disgrace that they are getting away with it.

[Dorset Plodder]

If it's any help Eric, we're a medium size DO (30ish duties), we've not had the Revision implemented yet and it's left up to the workforce when they take their break. We are still allowed to book 40 mins Meal relief if we don't take so I suppose that makes us "Illegal"

[L8Hatter]

I thought under H&S that you are not allowed to work for more than 4 hours without a break

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.

We haven't had revison yet, but I'm sure Gerardy is right that under EU law, you can't work more than 4 hours without a break. Was with a few temp agencies before RM and even they enforced it.

[PhilthyPhil]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this but I need as much info from other offices in what kind of pattern they take their breaks.
In the direct.gov.com website it states > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle.Yet in my office from starting at 6.30 am till 2.30 pm they want you to take your break at 8.20 am knowing full well idiots will work through it. 8 20.am is not middle in my calculations. Now I am hearing the DOM has told the drivers they can take their break at the end but direct.go.uk says > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day. Seems my office is clearly defying the rules.
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

These rules only apply to the 20 minute break which you are entitled to by law. Your employer can apply whatever rules they want to any additional time which they choose to give you.

[dubdaz]

Full time 8:30-9:10, but only about 5% of us take it. The rest work through it at 100 mph hoping they finish early,a hell of a lot of them though dont manage to finish the full 40 mins before there finishing time.They still carry on missing their meal reliefs because there scared of being told off by a LM for not completing.
The DIMS laughing all the way too his bonus.

[hans solo]

Don't quote me on this but if you're taking your full 40 minute break then it has to be in the middle of your shift, not at 820a.m. And even though we do no-one, not even drivers are allowed to have their break at the end of the shift.

its done at our office. we have 20 mins from 8.00am, then we work til 14.45, then the remainder of your break is from then, 20mins til 15.05 finish. i dont agree with it, i would rather have my full 40mins in the middle of the shift, but it suits the dom and the union rep persuaded staff to vote the fekker in. dam disgrace that they are getting away with it.

its not down to a vote if an individual wants full break they are legally entitled to it
if you want to split breaks or do without breaks thats your own decision

[fishtank]

its not down to a vote if an individual wants full break they are legally entitled to it

Any legal protection only applies to the 20 mins you are legally entitled to through working time regulation.
This 20 mins should be in one block in the middle of your working day.
The other 20 mins...you have no legal protection only collective agreement.