How much break time am I entitled to?

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 01 May 2019, 17:24

Newbie here, 30 hours contract....been working 5 weeks now....I have no clue how much break time I am entitled to. Maybe it's in the contract somewhere. I haven't asked anyone at work what I am entitled to and no manager or workplace coach or any Postie mentioned it to me. No Postie on any walk I have been on takes breaks....

Recently, the round I have been doing has taken me past my contracted hours, even went in 10 mins early today and we finished 20 mins past my contracted hours. So that's 30 mins extra I have been working for free....and without breaks. I assume my break entitlement is probably 30-40 minutes. If so, then today I have effectively worked 1 hour and 20 minutes too much.

Seems this round is longer than the others I have done. I am as fast as I can go now, not sure I'll get much faster. I am generally back to the van at the same time or before my fellow Postie. You could maybe say I have 5-10 minutes break when sitting around waiting for my fellow Postie when I am back to the van before him.

danterossetti · Post by **danterossetti** » 01 May 2019, 18:32

Depends on the length of your shift

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 01 May 2019, 19:15

norris9 wrote:Newbie here, 30 hours contract....been working 5 weeks now....I have no clue how much break time I am entitled to. Maybe it's in the contract somewhere. I haven't asked anyone at work what I am entitled to and no manager or workplace coach or any Postie mentioned it to me. No Postie on any walk I have been on takes breaks....

Recently, the round I have been doing has taken me past my contracted hours, even went in 10 mins early today and we finished 20 mins past my contracted hours. So that's 30 mins extra I have been working for free....and without breaks. I assume my break entitlement is probably 30-40 minutes. If so, then today I have effectively worked 1 hour and 20 minutes too much.

Seems this round is longer than the others I have done. I am as fast as I can go now, not sure I'll get much faster. I am generally back to the van at the same time or before my fellow Postie. You could maybe say I have 5-10 minutes break when sitting around waiting for my fellow Postie when I am back to the van before him.

See the Postal Members Handbook here (you will probably find some other 'nuggets' of info in the handbook that will help you too):

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... ok#p824615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 02 May 2019, 07:50

Nice, supposed to have a 30 minute break.

I guess I don't do much for 10 minutes whilst sometimes waiting for fellow postie. So I should have another 20 minutes more.

So this round is approx 40 to 50 minutes too long as finishing on average 20 - 25 minutes late and missing 20 - 25 minutes break time.

Cme12 · Post by **Cme12** » 05 May 2019, 20:14

Do you not put it down as over time?
My first day others told me make sure i add 30 mins onto my finish time so if i get back 2pm its really 2 30 so i get 45 minutes over time as i start 8 45 and im meant to work 5 hours (25 hour contract). This is usually the case for me get 45 minutes over time a day sometimes more.

bardeh · Post by **bardeh** » 05 May 2019, 23:08

If you're getting back to the office 30 mins after your contracted finish time, why are you not claiming that as overtime? There'll be a sheet there where you can claim it.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 08 May 2019, 22:01

Meal breaks attendance length : Downloads forum

Acca Dacca · Post by **Acca Dacca** » 09 May 2019, 00:00

norris9 wrote:Nice, supposed to have a 30 minute break.

I guess I don't do much for 10 minutes whilst sometimes waiting for fellow postie. So I should have another 20 minutes more.

So this round is approx 40 to 50 minutes too long as finishing on average 20 - 25 minutes late and missing 20 - 25 minutes break time.

Time spent waiting on your partner is not break time.

Really you should go and give him a hand or do a parcel or two though instead of waiting but even if you have nothing to do - its not your break.

kingdazzler · Post by **kingdazzler** » 01 Jun 2019, 20:49

just ask one of the posties who have been there a while, they'll put you right. personally i don't take a break because what you put in has to come out if you get my meaning. i just book the break time as o/t at the end of the shift. don't quote me on this but i think the breaks are up to 5 hrs = 20 mins, 5-7 hrs = 30 mins, over 7 hrs = 40 mins.

FirstPost · Post by **FirstPost** » 02 Jun 2019, 07:54

I asked a FT postie when I first joined, the reply was 'your not entitled to a break'

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 02 Jun 2019, 11:11

kingdazzler wrote:just ask one of the posties who have been there a while, they'll put you right. personally i don't take a break because what you put in has to come out if you get my meaning. i just book the break time as o/t at the end of the shift. don't quote me on this but i think the breaks are up to 5 hrs = 20 mins, 5-7 hrs = 30 mins, over 7 hrs = 40 mins.

Ok in theory until Big Brother starts using PDA actuals - they'll query why you've booked 20 mins at the end of the day when
you've logged off your PDA/'gone static' in the office. They won't care that you didn't have a break before you went out or didn't 'go static' out on
the walk for 20mins. They'll assume you took your break - because that's what you're supposed to do!! and then you'll lose
the 20 mins OT. Take you're break - give your shins a rest then you might not get shin splints as you've referred to previously!!!