MEAL RELIEF Must It Be Taken On Site?

Senior Service · Post by **Senior Service** » 26 Sep 2007, 14:19

I work in a smallish rural DO

Our manager in an attempt to cut down on pressure overtime is now insisting that we take 20 minutes of our meal relief before we go out on delivery; this has the effect of putting back 20 minutes the time from when we can start claiming extended delivery. Most of our silly lot just go out as soon as they can and end up working 20 minutes for nothing on busy days. I at least do sit around for 20 minutes at work.

My question is - Can i take my full 40 minute meal relief before i go out and can i take it off site (ie pop home in my own car). I understand that it will have to be recorded that i am no longer on site for the purpose of fires etc or is it ok just to say to the manager see you in 40 minutes.

With thoughts of possible cases involving conduct code or what ever can someone give me the law on this as i am sure many others would be interested.

dididw · Post by **dididw** » 26 Sep 2007, 14:46

He cannot tell you when to take YOUR meal relief, you are allowed to take part of your break after 2.30hrs of work, or 40 mins in the middle, or at the end of your duty after 7.20hrs if your on a 8hr day.

Post by **the beautiful bd south** » 26 Sep 2007, 16:07

dididw wrote:He cannot tell you when to take YOUR meal relief, you are allowed to take part of your break after 2.30hrs of work, or 40 mins in the middle, or at the end of your duty after 7.20hrs if your on a 8hr day.

your breaks should be set out within your 318 (if you are lucky enough to have one)

Senior Service · Post by **Senior Service** » 26 Sep 2007, 16:19

Very helpful replies but as in the original question does any one know if you are allowed to take your break off site

fatherchristmas · Post by **fatherchristmas** » 26 Sep 2007, 16:34

years ago during another dispute we were told to take our meal break in the office as it is a paid meal break. also you are fully entitled to take your full 40 minute break before going out and not being told to split it. hope this helps

smarterdarter · Post by **smarterdarter** » 26 Sep 2007, 17:02

We were also told we must have 20 mins of our meal relief before leaving the office
and the other 20 mins come's off our finishing time.
It's good to know i can have my full 40 mins before i go out (Dum wont like that)
As far as going home for it i belive this is a definite NO-NO

And sitting on Mrs Smiths garden wall tucking into my cheese and pickle sarnies
in sub zero temperatures in the wind and rain for 40mins dosn't appeal to me one bit!

Turpin · Post by **Turpin** » 26 Sep 2007, 17:30

The Issue Of 20/20 Meal Rlf was brought out surrounding the introduction of SDD on your 318 this was down to the fact that it was job and finish which have all turned out to be very big red herrings. Royal Mail have moved the goal posts big time needless to say in ther favour . I firmly beleive that we should now stick to the 318 very rigidly partly because of that very reason.
For instance Our Meal Rlf is 0810 to 0830. Well in the first instance screws are looking for somebody to sort hub mail at 0815 oh dear we are on break. This mail frequntly fails big time. Sad in it.
More often than not now we are still on prep at 0810 and have to work through what break you do get to van out in time. We should come of the prep have your break then go back to prep 0830 in which time you would miss your van which would result in absoulute shagging shambles.we would need a taxi cab icontract in our place to get everybody out.

:cfo :cfo

Throgg · Post by **Throgg** » 26 Sep 2007, 17:37

We have a postie who lives less than 50m away from his last delivery point. Every morning he does 1 hour of his delivery then goes home for his breakfast, management know this and don't have a problem with it. We also have others who go round to the cafe.

As long as you are not taking more than your alloted 40mins, i don't think it matters where you take your break.

Until being on this site i had never heard of 20/20. In our office you take the full 40mins, the only stipulation management make is that you get your dropbags ready for the driver first so that they're not held up.

Senior Service · Post by **Senior Service** » 26 Sep 2007, 18:27

As is often the case in Royal Mail it seems to vary over the country but as previous post said what can the argument against going home for 40 minutes as long as everything is ready for the drop bag driver. Surely if you are allowed to stop work for 40 minutes why should it matter where you stop.

If you insist on going home for your meal relief what sanctions could they employ?

Post by **wranglered** » 26 Sep 2007, 18:30

have a ten minute "grace break" before you go out and then fit the other 40 minutes in where you like....and also bring lots of mail back!

pilsbury · Post by **pilsbury** » 26 Sep 2007, 20:21

Spot on wranglered.

michael147 · Post by **michael147** » 26 Sep 2007, 23:36

I have always had my meal relief away from the office.
When challenged(very rarely) i have always stated that i am entitled to a hot meal in my break(no argument)this is not available on site at my DO so off i go!

ROCKY · Post by **ROCKY** » 27 Sep 2007, 16:16

as a driver our 318s state m/r on route,so as long as you are not off route there should be no problems