Meal breaks

[Blue Nose]

We have been told we must start taking meal breaks before we go out on a morning , 6am starters must have 20 minutes at 0830 and 8am starters about 0915 , the problem is nobody wants them , as union rep i see why we have to but members feel the times are being forced , is 0915 too early for 8am starters , can someone starting at 8am working until 2pm be made to take one before going out , cos they have always not taken breaks and finished and gone home at 130pm.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Don't forget that anyone working six hours or more is entitled to 20 minutes around the middle of their working day, so those 8-hour duties can only be made to take 20 minutes at 0830, while the 6-hour duties starting at 8am can only be made to take 10 minutes at 0915.

Meal is relief is not supposed to be tagged onto the end of the shift for an "early finish" any more, by doing so "Fred" is leaving the door open for managers to see hime finish early and rub their hands with glee at seeing they can increase the size of Fred's walk... Fred should be leaving the depot at the contracted shift end time.

[fishtank]

It's a difficult one from a rep's point of view.
I would rather see members taking 20mins before they leave the office even if it isn't quite the middle of the working day because i'm well aware that the minute they disappear out that door the vast majority won't take a break despite protestations to the contrary.
Better an early break than no break at all.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

the term in the middle is not actually defined so as long as its after the start and not at the end then its legal, now second point, legally we must be given this break, however nowhere does it state that legally we must take it, as long as the dom is scheduling a break he is fullfilling his legal duty, if you choose not to take it there is no law being broken but he can insist you take it if he wants to be picky,

[banner18]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10029451

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

LOL.

Never ever happened in my office, always at end of the day.

[billyboy123]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

[POSTMAN]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

I wouldn't stomach that,not for an 8hr shift.

[demon]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

I wouldn't stomach that,not for an 8hr shift.

you must have worked more than two hours before you are made to take abreak govament rules

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

I wouldn't stomach that,not for an 8hr shift.

you must have worked more than two hours before you are made to take abreak govament rules

nope no such rule unfortunately, the rule is the break must be in the middle, no at the start or end, unfortunately it does not specify anywhere the time for that or even a oercentage of the working day

[fishtank]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

I wouldn't stomach that,not for an 8hr shift.

I wouldn't either but it's not breaking any rules if they're only making you take 20mins.
They could obviously argue that the other 20mins should be taken in the middle.
It's always been a double edged sword...the old split break thingy.

[worktotime]

1 section of our office were told to take their meal break just 1 hour into their shift i.e. 6.30 start meal break 7.30 am who wants to have their meal break 1 hr into an 8 hr shift ffs this cannot be right surely ???????

I wouldn't stomach that,not for an 8hr shift.

I wouldn't either but it's not breaking any rules if they're only making you take 20mins.
They could obviously argue that the other 20mins should be taken in the middle.
It's always been a double edged sword...the old split break thingy.

fishtank , weve been told in our office that you will not be paid your morning 20min meal break his words take it or lose it , our official finish time with 40 min meal break is 14.30 out the door , dom says so no o/t to be claim till after 14.00, we take 20 mins in a morning when the van is loaded , so weve been finishing at about 14. 40 maybe a little later , but when we claim docket on a Saturday we claim the excess after 14.00 and we claim our 20min meal break as well the days we go over , and hes saying we will not be paid for that as the 20 mins are not written down on the finishing time sheet . ive asked the area rep and he doesn't seem bothered. can you give me any info , thanks.

[justdeno]

Ok, in our rural offices, we have no, I repeat no seats. We have to sit on the floor or stand up for our break. What do other people do in this situation?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Ok, in our rural offices, we have no, I repeat no seats. We have to sit on the floor or stand up for our break. What do other people do in this situation?

Go outside - sorry a little too facetious.

However, whilst Royal Mail can tell you when to take a break- they can't tell you where - is there a cafe, park or other suitable area nearby that you could all use.

[clashcityrocker]

Can't you bring in your own deckchairs?