4 HOUR SHIFT...First Break?

[Thunderthighs]

Hi, just wondering, on a 4 hour per day, what is the FIRST point you are entitled to take a Meal/Relief break each day?

I think that I have read on a 5 hour day, the First break can only be taken after 1.5hrs work,if I'm correct.

Thanks...

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As far as I know there is no statutory entitlement to a break on 4 hours work so there are no rules when it can be taken.

[Himaggen]

There is no hard and fast rule on this; the law states that it should be taken somewhere in the middle, not at the beginning or end.
Technically 1hr 50mins into the shift would be the absolute middle for your allowed 20 minutes, but I'd suggest that anywhere between 1hr and 3hrs into the duty would not be considered unreasonable.

[Thunderthighs]

Ta both...as someone on this shift said they were unable to comply with a very basic, simple request, as they were "On my break"..ie having a fag outside the building.
This was a starting time of 2pm...and the "break" was at 3pm.

All I asked was for them to tell the PHG when the collection lorry had arrived, simples!!! They were outside anyway!

As an aside...my "break" was supposed to at this time too, but NO BREAK is included in the PHG afternoon duty, so O/T it is then.
This has been highlighted by the CWU Rep, with no alterations made so far.
Head V Brickwall comes to mind!

[houseoflords]

What's a PHG?

[Thunderthighs]

Mite be the old expression for the person in the Locker!!! Old skool, probably!

Mite be other names, titles or words used, but its what I was told it was and as we all know the meaning, its stuck, here anyway.

[Pinky 1]

Old school it is .......... Postman Higher Grade

[UnhappyGremlin]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

[aiden01]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

How do they do that

[UnhappyGremlin]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

How do they do that

Some do 3pm until 7pm, their break is at 3pm for 20 minutes. And the Area Rep signed it off.
Most just start work at 3.20pm, and technically don't take a break at all.
It is/was the cheapest way to for the planner to give them their breaks. (They are PT Collection drivers).

[aiden01]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

How do they do that

Some do 3pm until 7pm, their break is at 3pm for 20 minutes. And the Area Rep signed it off.
Most just start work at 3.20pm, and technically don't take a break at all.
It is/was the cheapest way to for the planner to give them their breaks. (They are PT Collection drivers).

The rep,s a waste of space get rid of him also surely it,s illegal to take your break at the start of your time.

[UnhappyGremlin]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

How do they do that

Some do 3pm until 7pm, their break is at 3pm for 20 minutes. And the Area Rep signed it off.
Most just start work at 3.20pm, and technically don't take a break at all.
It is/was the cheapest way to for the planner to give them their breaks. (They are PT Collection drivers).

The rep,s a waste of space get rid of him also surely it,s illegal to take your break at the start of your time.

Don't have an office Rep so the Area Rep did it, the same area rep that happens to be mates with the hub manager.....
Though, it has happened before, it's to the benefit of the department, it means they can get more work out of the staff later on.
In a way, it would cost too much to put the breaks in half way through their shift, too many collections etc. But, there would be nothing stopping them from putting breaks in after their tea time route prior to other work, except costs and delays to other work obviously.

[t-c]

In my office we have staff on 4 hour days who START on their break.

How do they do that

Some do 3pm until 7pm, their break is at 3pm for 20 minutes. And the Area Rep signed it off.
Most just start work at 3.20pm, and technically don't take a break at all.
It is/was the cheapest way to for the planner to give them their breaks. (They are PT Collection drivers).

The rep,s a waste of space get rid of him also surely it,s illegal to take your break at the start of your time.

Don't have an office Rep so the Area Rep did it, the same area rep that happens to be mates with the hub manager.....
Though, it has happened before, it's to the benefit of the department, it means they can get more work out of the staff later on.
In a way, it would cost too much to put the breaks in half way through their shift, too many collections etc. But, there would be nothing stopping them from putting breaks in after their tea time route prior to other work, except costs and delays to other work obviously.

Rules for taking breaks
Employers can say when workers take their rest break during work time as long as:
the break is taken in one go somewhere in the middle of the day (not at the beginning or end)
the worker is allowed to spend it away from their desk or workstation (ie away from where they actually work)

If an employer says a worker should go back to work before their break is finished, it doesn’t count as a rest break.

Unless their employment contract says so, workers don’t have the right to:
take smoking breaks
get paid for their rest breaks

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work/rul ... ing-breaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, see page 26 of Delivery Reps Support Document detailing meal breaks
http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... cument.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pcb]

Page 22 of way forward agreement states that between 3hrs 31minutes and 4hrs and 59minutes accrues a break of 20 minutes.

[PhilthyPhil]

The rep,s a waste of space get rid of him also surely it,s illegal to take your break at the start of your time.

Its not illegal. There is no legal entitlement to a break at all on a 4 hour shift.