The rules on Breaks

fisherkinguk · Post by **fisherkinguk** » 08 Mar 2017, 21:19

I just need to check on something that keeps getting thrown at me.
We absorb 2 rounds in our office no matter how heavy it is, but there does come times when I just get fed up with it and tell the manager I will take out the other rounds when I get back from my delivery if I have time. Which is how it is supposed to work.

In the past when I have said this (which is very rare, because it's not worth the hassle!), I have been told that I will then have to take my breaks before I come back to the office. I don't have a problem taking my break, but only me and any other posties that decide not to laps before doing their own deliveries have to do this. Also we would not be allowed to finish early all week including Saturday even though the other posties would.
Now my Question is this
Can he make me have my break before I come back to the office? I sometimes work with 25 hr boys (I'm full time), so I can't take my break before I go out in the canteen since the part timers have just started and can't have break at the start. I don't want a break sat in the van, I want to have it in the canteen when I go back if I have to have one.
I have asked my union rep, his answer was : it's not legal to have a break at the start or end of your job!. so you have to have your break before you go out on delivery. I explained that this is not possible when you work with a part timer who's start time is when you go out on delivery.
So his next answer was to have your break on delivery. I asked him what about the fact that the part timer has 30 mins break and I have 40 mins.
His answer to this was : I should have a 10 min break before leaving the office so we then have the same break time left on delivery.
This is NOT sounding like a break to me, sitting in the canteen watching the clock for 10 mins, Then sat in a van for 30 mins. This is why I just absorb the rounds and keep quiet. But this problem will pop up again, just need to know where I stand.

gary1975 · Post by **gary1975** » 09 Mar 2017, 13:59

If pter has 30 min break he is supposed to have ten mins before he leaves office leaving you both 20 mins outdoor break

fisherkinguk · Post by **fisherkinguk** » 09 Mar 2017, 14:19

He can not have a 10 min break before leaving the office, he has only just arrived. what would he be having a break from?
I have a 40 mins break, he has a 30 min break only being part time.
I am the one that has to have a 10 min break before leaving the office just to even the break times. But I don't want to sit in the canteen for 10 mins just to get to kill time.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 09 Mar 2017, 15:27

Links are in Various posts throught the board (its a popular topic

) But the salient points are.

1. The manager can tell you when to take your break (the statutory 20 minutes one) as long as its somewhere in the middle of the working day.
2. The government say that the break should be taken away from your work station. My argument would be the Van is your work station.
3. The non-statutory part of your break (the other 20 minutes) can be taken at the end of the working day. Thats in one of the agreements.
4. As far as I am aware travel time to and from a break is included in your break. Clarification either way would be welcome.

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

fisherkinguk · Post by **fisherkinguk** » 09 Mar 2017, 15:54

Now that could be a lot of help, at least I would have some argument next time. Thanks

pilch · Post by **pilch** » 08 May 2017, 22:21

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Links are in Various posts throught the board (its a popular topic ) But the salient points are.

1. The manager can tell you when to take your break (the statutory 20 minutes one) as long as its somewhere in the middle of the working day.
2. The government say that the break should be taken away from your work station. My argument would be the Van is your work station.
3. The non-statutory part of your break (the other 20 minutes) can be taken at the end of the working day. Thats in one of the agreements.
4. As far as I am aware travel time to and from a break is included in your break. Clarification either way would be welcome.

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

that number 3 which you mention
can i get that in writing somewhere ?

our office has been forcing a few to have 40 minutes if they say they are going over

Post by **POSTMAN** » 08 May 2017, 23:48

pilch wrote:

that number 3 which you mention
can i get that in writing somewhere ?

our office has been forcing a few to have 40 minutes if they say they are going over

Way forward agreement, page 22...
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 36&t=11941" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

fisherkinguk · Post by **fisherkinguk** » 23 Feb 2018, 05:18

I have now been told by me rep that we are not allowed to have our 20 mins at the end, I printed out the section and showed it to him in work. He said it was for overtime only, I insisted it was in black and white we could have it at the end, but he was against it (just as I expected!).

boogyman · Post by **boogyman** » 23 Feb 2018, 12:34

Why are you finishing early on some days. Finishing early as gone your supposed to work your hrs end of.

fisherkinguk · Post by **fisherkinguk** » 23 Feb 2018, 14:16

We are not finishing early anymore . But if we work through our break and get back to the office , he has said he can send us back out with mail, and we won't be allowed to have our break. I would rather have some of my break when I get back where there is a microwave and kettle, not sat in a cold van.

awesomepenguin · Post by **awesomepenguin** » 23 Feb 2018, 18:16

What a complete and utter farce the whole break situation has become in Royal Mail.

What kind of employer and union allow a system to degenerate to the point where its staff/members don't know when they can or can't take their legally entitled breaks or in many cases unable to even take them at all?!

Absolutely shameful!

Post by **POSTMAN** » 23 Feb 2018, 22:44

fisherkinguk wrote:We are not finishing early anymore . But if we work through our break and get back to the office , he has said he can send us back out with mail, and we won't be allowed to have our break. I would rather have some of my break when I get back where there is a microwave and kettle, not sat in a cold van.

While your rep in part is talking bollox,you should know by your duty structure/318 doc/revision doc where your breaks are....ask.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 24 Feb 2018, 23:08

fisherkinguk wrote:I just need to check on something that keeps getting thrown at me.
We absorb 2 rounds in our office no matter how heavy it is, but there does come times when I just get fed up with it and tell the manager I will take out the other rounds when I get back from my delivery if I have time. Which is how it is supposed to work.

In the past when I have said this (which is very rare, because it's not worth the hassle!), I have been told that I will then have to take my breaks before I come back to the office. I don't have a problem taking my break, but only me and any other posties that decide not to laps before doing their own deliveries have to do this. Also we would not be allowed to finish early all week including Saturday even though the other posties would.
Now my Question is this
Can he make me have my break before I come back to the office? I sometimes work with 25 hr boys (I'm full time), so I can't take my break before I go out in the canteen since the part timers have just started and can't have break at the start. I don't want a break sat in the van, I want to have it in the canteen when I go back if I have to have one.
I have asked my union rep, his answer was : it's not legal to have a break at the start or end of your job!. so you have to have your break before you go out on delivery. I explained that this is not possible when you work with a part timer who's start time is when you go out on delivery.
So his next answer was to have your break on delivery. I asked him what about the fact that the part timer has 30 mins break and I have 40 mins.
His answer to this was : I should have a 10 min break before leaving the office so we then have the same break time left on delivery.
This is NOT sounding like a break to me, sitting in the canteen watching the clock for 10 mins, Then sat in a van for 30 mins. This is why I just absorb the rounds and keep quiet. But this problem will pop up again, just need to know where I stand.

Take the full 40 min one day and 20 in the next you can do both if you go over take more the next day how long before the the so called planks that manage us realise that we do the work not for them mix it up and piss on them just remember your start finish time and given break time for that day and fuckem!

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Feb 2018, 00:07

POSTMAN wrote:
fisherkinguk wrote:We are not finishing early anymore . But if we work through our break and get back to the office , he has said he can send us back out with mail, and we won't be allowed to have our break. I would rather have some of my break when I get back where there is a microwave and kettle, not sat in a cold van.
While your rep in part is talking bollox,you should know by your duty structure/318 doc/revision doc where your breaks are....ask.

Don't forget that everyone has a bit on their 318 that reads something like "or as directed"

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 25 Feb 2018, 00:48

SpacePhoenix wrote:
POSTMAN wrote:
fisherkinguk wrote:We are not finishing early anymore . But if we work through our break and get back to the office , he has said he can send us back out with mail, and we won't be allowed to have our break. I would rather have some of my break when I get back where there is a microwave and kettle, not sat in a cold van.
While your rep in part is talking bollox,you should know by your duty structure/318 doc/revision doc where your breaks are....ask.
Don't forget that everyone has a bit on their 318 that reads something like "or as directed"

No one has 318s in our area for the last 10 years but you have a start time finish time and a break in between and you can take it when you want non of this operational bullshit it's your break take it!