Where to take a break?

dougfunny892 · Post by **dougfunny892** » 16 Aug 2018, 14:41

Been told by management that if i want my break out on delivery i cannot return to the DO to take it there. I have to have it the van which is not very nice and has no facilities. Theres a cafe about 10 mins away if i want a hot drink but the office is only 10 mins away and i could make a brew for free there. Where do i stand on this? Plus what if my partner doesn't want a break?

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 16 Aug 2018, 16:07

In lieu of your manager telling you what times your breaks should be (which they are entitled to do), you and your partner need to agree on when to take them.

Taking your break in the van is kind of a grey area. It's unfortunately probably fair enough to say that's where to take it - lots of workers in outdoor jobs have to take their breaks 'on site', but the issue of toilet facilities etc is no longer properly addressed by RM.

dougfunny892 · Post by **dougfunny892** » 16 Aug 2018, 16:11

My partner wants to finish 20 mins early and not have a second break.

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 16 Aug 2018, 16:16

Well he's not entitled to, except on Saturdays. Your breaks must be taken somewhere in the middle of the day.

elm24 · Post by **elm24** » 16 Aug 2018, 17:20

DGH wrote:Well he's not entitled to, except on Saturdays. Your breaks must be taken somewhere in the middle of the day.

Why is Saturday different??? Just another working day!!

Phantom · Post by **Phantom** » 16 Aug 2018, 17:27

Where do you go if you need the toilet?

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 16 Aug 2018, 17:29

elm24 wrote:
DGH wrote:Well he's not entitled to, except on Saturdays. Your breaks must be taken somewhere in the middle of the day.
Why is Saturday different??? Just another working day!!

It is apparently a peculiarity of the law surrounding breaks. On Saturdays you may take your statutory 20 minute break at the end of the day (unless working in sectors like retail).

Phantom wrote:Where do you go if you need the toilet?

Good question. However there is no entitlement to toilet breaks outwith your contractual or statutory breaks. Presumably the law deems that an adult can hold on for 4 hours or so. In practice of course, most workplaces are reasonable about that kind of thing. But RM used to have designated toilet stops on rounds. That no longer seems to be the case. If you're lucky there will be a pub or a shop or somewhere happy to let you use their facilities somewhere on your round.

Interestingly, from the HSE site:

'However, there are a number of special circumstances in which the entitlement to rest periods does not apply, for example, where the activities involve a need for continuity of service or production or where there is a foreseeable surge of activity.'

This apparently may include postal workers. In such cases you are entitled to 'compensatory rest', taken at the end of your shift. This is probably the basis for RM being able to say in the past (they have now changed their tune) 'take your break at the end if you want.'

dougfunny892 · Post by **dougfunny892** » 16 Aug 2018, 18:40

We have a break 8.10 to 8.30. And we are allowed to finish at 2.10 instead of 2.30. I want to have my other break and finish at 2.30 my partner wants to finish at 2.10.

matthew68 · Post by **matthew68** » 16 Aug 2018, 20:55

It’s not practical to take break in van for starters there’s not enough room! It’s either too hot or too cold plus unhygienic to eat in van as not clean enough plus not toilet or anywhere to wash properly,plus your partner could eat something which could make you feel sick! I eat my sandwich in van once with a reserve who wanted break. He couldn’t stay in van because of tuna sandwich!

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 16 Aug 2018, 21:03

If your office is 10 minutes away then it's a 20 minute round trip to get to and from meaning you'll literally have no time for a break anyway?

This is why it's awkward to be honest. I know there are certain walks where there is somewhere nice to sit in the sun or have a coffee at a cafe so I'll take my break out there. On my current walk, there's no such place so I take 20 minutes off my finish time.

Post by **Brandy** » 16 Aug 2018, 21:12

Phantom wrote:Where do you go if you need the toilet?

The nearest bush!

Post by **Navalron** » 16 Aug 2018, 21:58

dougfunny892 wrote:We have a break 8.10 to 8.30. And we are allowed to finish at 2.10 instead of 2.30. I want to have my other break and finish at 2.30 my partner wants to finish at 2.10.

Mate YOU take YOUR break when ever you want and tell your partner to go f...k him/,herself.

Post by **PHARRY** » 17 Aug 2018, 11:54

Navalron wrote:
dougfunny892 wrote:We have a break 8.10 to 8.30. And we are allowed to finish at 2.10 instead of 2.30. I want to have my other break and finish at 2.30 my partner wants to finish at 2.10.
Mate YOU take YOUR break when ever you want and tell your partner to go f...k him/,herself.

Do as your partner says and finish early

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 17 Aug 2018, 14:48

Navalron wrote:
dougfunny892 wrote:We have a break 8.10 to 8.30. And we are allowed to finish at 2.10 instead of 2.30. I want to have my other break and finish at 2.30 my partner wants to finish at 2.10.
Mate YOU take YOUR break when ever you want and tell your partner to go f...k him/,herself.

Actually you have to take your break when your manager tells you to.
We have collective bargaining and the timing of the meal relief should be agreed between management and the union (us)
The timings and split of the break should have been decided by a vote. And that is what everyone should stick to. That is democracy.

Telling your partner to go f**k him/herself would actually be grounds for dismissal.

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 17 Aug 2018, 16:27

clashcityrocker wrote: Actually you have to take your break when your manager tells you to.

Quite. The only caveat to that being that your manager may not instruct you to take your break towards the beginning or at the end of your shift (except occasionally if there are exceptional circumstances).

I would greatly prefer our office to have fixed break times agreed and adhered to by all but the management have no interest in enforcing fixed breaks, and a significant number of the workforce have no interest in sticking to any such agreed break times. Ho hum.