Stupid Break Times

[tragictramp]

Recently the whole office has been revised to p&l, the majority of staff now start at 7.40-7.55, but we have been told we are to take a break between 8.20-8.40 and the other 20 mins at the end of the duty, as the 1st break is only 25-35 mins since start a lot of posties do not bother taking it. Surely the breaks should be taken at the middle of a shift rather than beginning and the end?

I have looked at the work regulations regarding rest breaks and it states that a break should normally be taken midway thru a daily shift and that it most definitely should not be used at the end, ie finishing early.

Is this the same in every place or is it just ours, with the management hoping that early breaks are not taken, and in some cases none taken at all.

I personally have not taken breaks at all recently and just add them to the o/t list, but I have now been informed that if I do not take the breaks I have voluntarily gave them up. I know, yes its stupid but with them letting you finish early instead of your 2nd 20 min break, it leaves people in the job and finish mentality still.

I believe that a break should be taken midway through a duty say 12.00 in 1 lump.

just like to hear other offices break times?

[fishtank]

When you did the revision where were your breaks placed?
Did your rep agree to them being scheduled at such a ridiculous time?
Have they been moved?
As for the break being in one lump that only applies to 20mins but yes it should be as near as is practicably possible to the middle of your working day.
And yes if you don't take it you lose it so be careful when you book OT.

[tragictramp]

Our breaks in the past were always out on the job, and rarely taken by anyone, I would always book o/t in the old delivery methods if I went over and did not take them.
I will ask the union guy tomorrow about breaks again as in the past he just said they need to be sorted, but speaking to the managers they seem to blame him for these times and said they couldn't come to an agreement.
The whole office thinks these times are stupid, but no one seems to challenge why they are at ridiculous times to the managers, and bury their heads in the sand.

[justdeno]

I would say to a manager that if they want I will start 20mins later, and at 12.30 have the other 20mins, bet they wouldn't like that, no way should any employee work less than a hour and have dinner If you work 9-5 I've never known anybody having their break at 9.40 Speak to a rep and get it sorted, good luck

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Recently the whole office has been revised to p&l, the majority of staff now start at 7.40-7.55, but we have been told we are to take a break between 8.20-8.40 and the other 20 mins at the end of the duty, as the 1st break is only 25-35 mins since start a lot of posties do not bother taking it. Surely the breaks should be taken at the middle of a shift rather than beginning and the end?

Another bit of management misinformation! 20 minutes cannot be legally be at the end of the duty, it should be taken in the middle of the working day if individuals are working more than a 6 hour shift, which ought to mean when out on delivery for your depot starting at 1150ish.

As for indoor meal relief entitlement in excess of 20 minutes needed to be taken later, yes management can make you take it whenever, but how bloody stupid is it for an 8-hour employee to take 20 minutes break after ~25 minutes of starting work?

You should challenge your lino/DOM and suggest that if the job is so demanding that 20 minutes break is needed after ~25 minutes work, you should continue that pattern for the whole contracted shift! But in the meantime while getting this farse resolved, you need to get everyone complying with this "use it or lose it" threat, going for a cuppa after an exhausting 25 minutes of IPS/prep.

[obscurityknocks]

I reckon the best time to take a break is after you have tied up your delivery and ready to go out (apart from collecting specials, unless you keep them with you), this may not be exactly half way through the day but at least it guarantees everyone should take some of their break. If it meant the difference of not getting/taking a break, despite the silly time i would take my break at whatever time personally.

[fishtank]

Another bit of management misinformation! 20 minutes cannot be legally be at the end of the duty,

That's not strictly true.
If it's part of a 40min entitlement it can be split and 20mins can be taken at the beginning or end of your duty but only 20mins.
The other 20mins must be as near as possible to the middle of your working day.

[fishtank]

I reckon the best time to take a break is after you have tied up your delivery and ready to go out (apart from collecting specials, unless you keep them with you), this may not be exactly half way through the day but at least it guarantees everyone should take some of their break. If it meant the difference of not getting/taking a break, despite the silly time i would take my break at whatever time personally.

This is the problem reps face because we know if members don't take at least 20mins before they leave the office most of them won't take any.
Trying to get a balance is difficult because if you wait until they are tied up and ready to go...they will go and if you schedule it too early it becomes ridiculous...as in this case.
In our office we are scheduled to leave at 0940 and have our first break at 0840-0900 which isn't perfect but at least it's a break.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Another bit of management misinformation! 20 minutes cannot be legally be at the end of the duty,

That's not strictly true.
If it's part of a 40min entitlement it can be split and 20mins can be taken at the beginning or end of your duty but only 20mins.
The other 20mins must be as near as possible to the middle of your working day.

Sorry, my fault, did not write how I meant to phrase it... I meant the managers cannot dictate 20 minutes at the end if they are dictating the other bit barely after starting the working day, leaving no 20 minute block to be taken in the midle of the working day.

[obscurityknocks]

I reckon the best time to take a break is after you have tied up your delivery and ready to go out (apart from collecting specials, unless you keep them with you), this may not be exactly half way through the day but at least it guarantees everyone should take some of their break. If it meant the difference of not getting/taking a break, despite the silly time i would take my break at whatever time personally.

This is the problem reps face because we know if members don't take at least 20mins before they leave the office most of them won't take any.
Trying to get a balance is difficult because if you wait until they are tied up and ready to go...they will go and if you schedule it too early it becomes ridiculous...as in this case.
In our office we are scheduled to leave at 0940 and have our first break at 0840-0900 which isn't perfect but at least it's a break.

Huge problem is every office is starting at different times, going out at different times and finishing at different times and the amount of staff on different working hours as well. Ive just took reps job on and we are scheduled for p&l revision soonish i think, and a massive problem will be getting people to take breaks. Our last batch of sequenced mail will be arriving 9am ish so getting anyone to take a break after that arrives would be difficult as like you say all they want to do is get out onto delivery.

[Hitcher]

I reckon the best time to take a break is after you have tied up your delivery and ready to go out (apart from collecting specials, unless you keep them with you), this may not be exactly half way through the day but at least it guarantees everyone should take some of their break. If it meant the difference of not getting/taking a break, despite the silly time i would take my break at whatever time personally.

This is the problem reps face because we know if members don't take at least 20mins before they leave the office most of them won't take any.
Trying to get a balance is difficult because if you wait until they are tied up and ready to go...they will go and if you schedule it too early it becomes ridiculous...as in this case.
In our office we are scheduled to leave at 0940 and have our first break at 0840-0900 which isn't perfect but at least it's a break.

But you're not meant to work longer than 6 hours without a break.

[fishtank]

But you're not meant to work longer than 6 hours without a break.

We don't.
Our break finishes at 0900 and our latest finish time is 1430 plus the members still have 20mins in hand anyway.

[tragictramp]

But you're not meant to work longer than 6 hours without a break.

We don't.
Our break finishes at 0900 and our latest finish time is 1430 plus the members still have 20mins in hand anyway.

what about firms that have paid for 9 am delivery?

[eastie]

Take your 1st 20 minute break after your have done your daily 20 minute van checks

[fishtank]

what about firms that have paid for 9 am delivery?

Our pre 0900 deliveries along with our 0900 SD's are resourced separately from the duty holders.
We also have some business duties that start earlier,have their break earlier and finish earlier.
The pattern is the same,it's just that the times are different.