Unpaid breaks so just go home?

Sand87 · Post by **Sand87** » 24 Sep 2015, 13:18

I'm a casual in a MC and when I started I was told that for a 5 hour shift you would get 30 minutes worth of break but it was unpaid so the guy said you can either take your breaks or just go home 30 minutes early.

For a 5 hour shift - which basically turns in to 4.5 hrs - why would anyone bother taking their breaks instead of getting out 30 minutes early?

And does anybody know what the breaks are for other shifts i.e an 8 hour shift?

Cheers

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 24 Sep 2015, 17:15

goofyhumor · Post by **goofyhumor** » 26 Sep 2015, 22:51

As AWR qualified, we get 20 mins for 4 hours, 30 mins for 5-6 hours, 40 mins for 7 hours, 1 hour for 8 hours, 1 hour 10 mins for 10 hours and 1 hour 20 mins for 12 hours.

ennabee · Post by **ennabee** » 27 Sep 2015, 07:52

At our MC we're not given 1 hour for an 8 hour shift, AWR or not! We are given 5 minutes an hour. Seems some Angard staff at different Offices/Mail Centres get 30 mins, 40 mins or an hour for an 8 hour shift
Sometimes we get an extra break on a long shift (8 hours or more) but that's purely discretionary.
We no longer get an option to take a break at the end but neither do the regulars

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 27 Sep 2015, 08:09

ennabee wrote: We no longer get an option to take a break at the end but neither do the regulars

That's because it's illegal to take a break at the end of a shift, it has to be taken during the shift

ennabee · Post by **ennabee** » 27 Sep 2015, 20:43

SpacePhoenix wrote:
ennabee wrote: We no longer get an option to take a break at the end but neither do the regulars
That's because it's illegal to take a break at the end of a shift, it has to be taken during the shift

Yes and I understand now some of the regulars on shorter shifts are being sent for breaks not long after they get in...

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 27 Sep 2015, 22:26

goofyhumor · Post by **goofyhumor** » 28 Sep 2015, 10:39

You should definitely get 40 mins break forcan hour I think that is the national break. The extra 20 mins is a grace break, agreed locally with unions, I think that I remember reading that once.

gobler · Post by **gobler** » 09 Nov 2015, 13:11

If you qualify for AWR, you are entitled to exactly the same terms and conditions as RM staff, pay breaks etc,
If you are not getting them, then that is illegal.

gobler · Post by **gobler** » 09 Nov 2015, 13:12

The break entitlement is as goofyhumor posted.

blu-tac man · Post by **blu-tac man** » 21 Nov 2015, 17:54

I'm a flexible casual worker at Jubilee MC, where I started last week. I completed three 07:00 to 14:00 shifts, and each day was given a 30 minute (unpaid I'm sure) break sometime between 09:00 and 10:00.

There was no option not to take it and leave 30 minutes early.

Post by **Lockardian** » 28 Mar 2016, 20:23

For 5 and 6 hour shifts, we normally get a 25-30 minute break. When my payslip arrives, sometimes this is paid, sometimes unpaid. I'm AWR casual. Which is correct?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 29 Mar 2016, 14:01

Si-Co wrote:For 5 and 6-hour shifts, we normally get a 25-30 minute break. When my payslip arrives, sometimes this is paid, sometimes unpaid. I'm AWR casual. Which is correct?

Its not as clear as that.

In some offices, they increase the hourly rate to take into account paid breaks but the breaks aren't, themselves paid. In others, they pay you as they should.

IF you have qualified under AWR then your gross pay should be the same as a Permanent employee who has been employed the same amount of time as you.

Post by **Lockardian** » 17 Apr 2016, 02:35

Thanks. It appears that we are deducted 15 minutes for a break on a 5 and 6 hour shift, although the actual break tends to be longer.

Woodgnome · Post by **Woodgnome** » 09 Sep 2016, 19:48

At manchester mail centre angard staff get 30 mins on a nightshift only no other breaks are allowed even though most of em duck into a toilet every hour or even take smoke breaks soon as manager leaves the floor for his own break starnge they never get caught either the shift is from 22.15 to 6. 15 yet pay is 7.75 hours now

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