Yet another meal relief enquiry!

[Law7]

Been a LONG start to the week... 9.5 hours yesterday, 8.5 hours today, only on second day of trying to get used to P&L.

Was told when we returned to the office that our overtime would not be signed off as it included meal relief, and was asked to explain why we hadn't taken it during the day to our line manager tomorrow - simple, because we wouldn't have finished untill 5pm! Will see what happens tomorrow but if they want to be funny about it I will just cut off at 2pm and stuff em!

what happens if I want to cut off and my partner doesn't? What happens if we want to take our break at different times? Also, my partner is quite slow, I'm usually ready to go out the door 15 mins before he is - does this count as a break, or am I expected to clean the loos as I wait?!

Thanks :)

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

are you carrying bags or using the lightweight trollies?

[Law7]

are you carrying bags or using the lightweight trollies?

Mostly the trollies, except for the blocks of flats... I'd say 75% trollies

[spiderj]

Several tacks are available
Work to the same pace as your oppo
Explain the meal relief mix up was just that,a mix up
If you cut off and your partner doesn't,they have to return you to your unit
Take meal relief before going out,there's a thread on here which details all breaks etc
....
Also if your working 9 hours etc then you are entitled to more breaks
From a SAFETY point of view,surely you need to refuel and rest before physical exercise?

Have fun,its been the same at ours.

[coxie]

You should have meal relif times built into your duty so you and your partner should be having it at the same time. If you want to extend then always agree how much with your manager before you go, if he don't want to pay or you don't want to extend then simple just cut off.

[Dorset Plodder]

Meal Reliefs are such a can of worms. Bearing in mind ALL Delivery offices are different and ALL Managers have their own attitudes to MR. Personally I see nothing wrong with not taking a MR during my day finishing 40 mins early and booking those 40 mins as MR. Some Units/Managers are fine with this. The only problem is if you come back "Early" and a Manager says, "You've still got 40 mins work left", hopefully you know your Regular Managers views.

I know The CWU want everyone to take MR during the day, but sitting on a wall somewhere in the Arse End of Nowhere in the wind and rain, eating soggy sandwiches is not my idea of fun. I know some Offices stop at a certain time and all disappear to the canteen......... In my experience most Posties just want to get out of the door, get their mail delivered and knock off as soon as possible.

Law....Surely your Manager is not so dim that he doesn't realise if you stop for a 40 min break during your day...you are going to finish 40 mins later? IF you decide to Cut Off first talk to your Rep and make sure you follow the correct procedure or you'll drop yourself in the shite. Ironically I believe if you follow that procedure you'll be asked to take a 20 min MR so the Manager can count the number of Delivery Points you aren't visiting so he can work out your call rate. So that's 20 mins he's lost already! Good Luck.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

so heres a situation, your day is 7hr48 long, you have decided to take your break at the end of your shift,

so just after finishing your end of delivery at just over 7 hours in you drive back to the office, through no fault of your own your in a serious crash, the other person claims you were not looking where you were going and you are at fault, there is no witnesses to back up either side, so Mr Traffic cop has to investigate, i can pretty much guarantee one of the first few questions he is going to ask is when did you have a break and how long have you been working, your answer is going to be along the lines of, i have just worked 7 straight hours without a break.

Coupled with that you were injured in the accident, but when attempting to claim from compensation from either RM, RM's Insurance or the other parties insurance the fact you have worked so long without a break will be taken into account and you more than likely will be found partly responsible maybe even mostly responsible and as such either get very little or possibly even nothing at all, especially if your manager has documented somewhere that he has told every to take their breaks

[Dorset Plodder]

I see your point ZX, however we haven't got tachos fitted yet so it'd be difficult to prove, and a large number of our colleagues don't even drive anymore with van sharing. I suppose you could run someone over with a HCT whilst not paying attention.

On a serious note if everyone could have a nice Meal Relief in a canteen with a Hot Drink and a Cooked Food, whilst sat down in a relaxing atmosphere, Great However we all know the reality of the situation. We don't all have friends or relatives we can call at for a cuppa (or even use the loo). Not every walk has cafes or greasy spoons, pubs or convenience stores. Surely to be effective a Meal Relief should be of a minimum standard? Not huddling under an underpass, trying to keep out of the rain whilst chewing on a Mars Bar!

[spiderj]

Why not take meal relief before leaving your depot?

I have taken a break outside....not great but done it so that I remained halfway alert

Dogs,scooters,cars,glass,high kerbs,wasps

One lapse can finish you
Not being aware is walking a tightrope

But finishing 20 mins early.....great?
I'd rather go home in the same shape I started

[TrueBlueTerrier]

what do people do with the extra 20,30 or even 40 minutes they finish early. Its a genuine question as well.

Obviously if you have small children that need collecting every day I can see the benefit, but are there any other reasons anyone has to push it to finish early, other than just finishing early.

[spiderj]

Must be a club going where all the early finishers go??

[R@YAL F@IL]

2 men and a van, why can they not go out and deliver one of the duties come back to the office have their full meal relief then go out and deliver the second duty? The meal relief will then be taken at a time when the rest of the uk are having their dinner.