Being forced to take full break

[celerycelery]

New manager last week told a member of staff who wanted to finish on time which meant leaving his lapsed bit, he was to take his full 40 mins break before he went out. The managers idea was that during the 40 min break he would get another manager to throw in rest of the walk and start to tie it up therefore hoping that this would stop staff member from cutting off. Surely this is bullying and harassment as the postie only wanted to finish on time. Told him to get the manager to put it in writing that he wanted him to take full break before going out as i was sure he couldnt do this to him. Manager said "forget it then, ill get your lapsed bit covered this time".

[clashcityrocker]

They can tell you when to take your break but they can't tell you where to take it.
It would also be unfair to single out individual employees to "force" to take their break while others are not.

It seems your colleague didn't want to finish on time, he wanted to finish 40 minutes early by skipping his meal relief.

[newtimes]

New manager last week told a member of staff who wanted to finish on time which meant leaving his lapsed bit, he was to take his full 40 mins break before he went out. The managers idea was that during the 40 min break he would get another manager to throw in rest of the walk and start to tie it up therefore hoping that this would stop staff member from cutting off. Surely this is bullying and harassment as the postie only wanted to finish on time. Told him to get the manager to put it in writing that he wanted him to take full break before going out as i was sure he couldnt do this to him. Manager said "forget it then, ill get your lapsed bit covered this time".

I do not follow this, how does taking you break later on stops you from doing the lapsed bit, unless it puts you over you time and then thats your option to do or not to do. Correct me if I am wrong, on a heath and safty issue, your break should not be taken at the end of your shift.

[obscurityknocks]

If the shift is 6am to 2pm, then lets say normally you take a 20 min break at 9.30am before you go out and the other at 1.40pm till your finishing time 2pm. If the manager makes you take your full 40 mins break at say 8.20am for that 40 mins the manager will get someone else to throw the walk in. This means that you will be theoretically 40 mins ahead on your duty as someone else is doing your work during your break. Our managers try it now and again but when told "if you make me take it all then i expect everyone to as well," they soon back down.

[demon]

you must have worked at least 2 hours before taking any type of break but they can onlly tell you to take 20 mins as that is what royal mail pay you for even tho they say it is payed for 40 mins the other 20 mins is the law which says you must have a break in your shift this can be taken were and when you want

[fishtank]

you must have worked at least 2 hours before taking any type of break but they can onlly tell you to take 20 mins as that is what royal mail pay you for even tho they say it is payed for 40 mins the other 20 mins is the law which says you must have a break in your shift this can be taken were and when you want

None of the above is true.

[hantsman]

you must have worked at least 2 hours before taking any type of break but they can onlly tell you to take 20 mins as that is what royal mail pay you for even tho they say it is payed for 40 mins the other 20 mins is the law which says you must have a break in your shift this can be taken were and when you want

None of the above is true.

Ditto.

[POSTMAN]

What about workplans? Do many offices not have one then,every office should know when their breaks are,this would of been worked out with various revisions over the years.

[clashcityrocker]

Everyone knows when their break is.
Unfortunately they call it dispatch time.
I think the time has come to schedule a minimum 20 minute break so that it has to be taken.
So if for instance dispatch time is 10.30, the break would be 10-10.20.

[obscurityknocks]

You mean 318's? Along with shergar and lord lucan they are difficult to find.

[fishtank]

There are only three arguments you can have...

Where were your breaks originally scheduled and why have they been changed?
Is the break reasonably centralised in your working day?
Why have you been singled out?

[taurus88]

In our office the duties are designed with part of the break on the end. That is to say:

20 (+20 at the end) for full-timers
10 (+20 at the end) for part-timers

I was sceptical of it but it was agreed in the last revision and I have had this confirmed both by CWU representatives and management. It is therefore accepted that our finish times are proportionate to this agreement. However, should one prefer to have their break during their duty ... that's up to them. I personally go half and half.

[SpacePhoenix]

In our office the duties are designed with part of the break on the end. That is to say:

20 (+20 at the end) for full-timers
10 (+20 at the end) for part-timers

I was sceptical of it but it was agreed in the last revision and I have had this confirmed both by CWU representatives and management. It is therefore accepted that our finish times are proportionate to this agreement. However, should one prefer to have their break during their duty ... that's up to them. I personally go half and half.

Don't think that is allowed - from the Direct Gov Site (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

[PhilthyPhil]

Breaks of less than 40 mins can not be split. This would apply to shifts of 7hrs or less so most PT and FT on shorter days (normally sat).

[keithposty]

Breaks of less than 40 mins can not be split. This would apply to shifts of 7hrs or less so most PT and FT on shorter days (normally sat).

curious

where does it state breaks of 40 minutes cannot be split

the minimum under statute is 20 min for a six hour shift

not having a go, very interested