there used to be a poster (well, sheet of A4) up on the wall in our office, with the CWU agreed Meal Relief allocations, relative to hours worked. But it's gone AWOL and I can't remember exactly what it said? I know the legal minumum for a 6 hour day is 20 mins, but am fairly sure we have 30 mins? But more importantly, what are the entitlements for other lenghts of 'working day'? Any help much appreciated (am trying to make sure they don't try and shaft me for taking wrong amount !)
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been. My BFF Clash The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
If your screws get narkey,it's from the way forward agreement.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been. My BFF Clash The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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.
A worker is entitled to an uninterrupted break of 20 minutes when daily working time is more than six hours. It should be a break in working time and should not be taken either at the start, or at the end, of a working day.
Daily rest
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 10, a worker is entitled to a rest period of 11 consecutive hours rest in each 24 hour period during which he works for his employer.
However, there are a number of special circumstances in which the entitlement to rest periods does not apply, for example, where the activities involve a need for continuity of service or production or where there is a foreseeable surge of activity. Also, if a shift worker changes shift, it may not be possible for them to take their full rest entitlement before starting the new pattern of work. In such a case the entitlement to daily and weekly rest does not apply.
Weekly rest
An adult worker is also entitled to one day off a week; this can be averaged over 2 weeks.
Young or adolescent workers
If a young worker is required to work more than four and a half-hours at a time, then they are entitled to a break of 30 minutes. A young worker is also entitled to twelve uninterrupted hours in each 24-hour period in which they work. Both these entitlements can only be altered or excluded in exceptional circumstances. Young workers are also entitled to 2 days off each week and this cannot be averaged over 2 weeks.
There is a free guidance produced by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), which can provide more information.
bensonhedge wrote:have asked this before but what is 'meal relief' or 'teabreak'?
Sorry don't understand the question. Are you asking for a definition or more information on the agreements covering it.
If you need a defintion then TBH they words are in themselves descriptive of what they are:
Meal Relief = A break in the working day to allow you to eat and drink.
Tea Break = No such thing in RM officially but again its a break so you can get a drink.
At my old place it was 45 minutes meal break and 2 10 minute tea breaks - all at specifc times and all unpaid.
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Can someone clear up a problem we are having concerning breaks. Manager says we are not allowed travelling time to our canteen which is at the opposite end of the building to where i work approx 3mins walk. Other operations are right on the entrance to the canteen and no travel time needed. manager also says that we need to be back at our work station at the stated end of break time and we must leave the rest/canteen area in sufficient time. We have argued that a break starts once we have reached the rest/canteen area and are being robbed of about 5 or 6 mins each time. Up to now we have ignored his warnings of conduct code and keep asking him to provide evidence of a no travel time agreement therefore cutting official and legal breaktimes down. Any evidence on the boards to help support our case would be great.
