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Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.

Where do you take your (meal relief) break?

Poll ended at 23 Nov 2021, 21:08

Go back to the DO canteen
34
15%
Local cafe (etc)
11
5%
At Home (if local)
22
10%
Picnic in the van
93
41%
No break (NO food/drink AT ALL)
25
11%
No break (eat/drink whilst dead walking etc)
44
19%
 
Total votes: 229

EdRush
Posts: 123
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 20:18
Gender: Male

Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by EdRush »

I'm interested to know where outdoor delivery staff (posties etc, not indoor staff) take their breaks these days?

I understand this a contentious/taboo subject for various reasons.

FYI meal relief entitlement
<5hrs 20 min
>5hrs 30 min
>7hrs 40 min
>9hrs 50 min

ps has anyone ever heard a manager encouraging you to come back to the DO canteen at lunch time?
HairyHobbit
Posts: 114
Joined: 29 Aug 2021, 10:26
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by HairyHobbit »

EdRush wrote:
13 Nov 2021, 21:08
I'm interested to know where outdoor delivery staff (posties etc, not indoor staff) take their breaks these days?

I understand this a contentious/taboo subject for various reasons.

FYI meal relief entitlement
<5hrs 20 min
>5hrs 30 min
>7hrs 40 min
>9hrs 50 min

ps has anyone ever heard a manager encouraging you to come back to the DO canteen at lunch time?

Is there any documentation to back up this meal relief entitlement? I’ve been working for 12 weeks or so and haven’t once been told my meal relief entitlement?

I’m expected to take enough delivery to take me up to my finishing time without a break, though…

(I do 8-9hr a day)
Clappedoutpostie
Posts: 1255
Joined: 05 Nov 2021, 21:46
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by Clappedoutpostie »

HairyHobbit wrote:
13 Nov 2021, 22:05
EdRush wrote:
13 Nov 2021, 21:08
I'm interested to know where outdoor delivery staff (posties etc, not indoor staff) take their breaks these days?

I understand this a contentious/taboo subject for various reasons.

FYI meal relief entitlement
<5hrs 20 min
>5hrs 30 min
>7hrs 40 min
>9hrs 50 min

ps has anyone ever heard a manager encouraging you to come back to the DO canteen at lunch time?

Is there any documentation to back up this meal relief entitlement? I’ve been working for 12 weeks or so and haven’t once been told my meal relief entitlement?

I’m expected to take enough delivery to take me up to my finishing time without a break, though…

(I do 8-9hr a day)
It will be in your CWU handbook, management won’t mention anything about it.
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12132
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by SpacePhoenix »

POSTMAN wrote:
27 Oct 2021, 22:34
For reference...

Attendance length............total breaks..... probable/possible pattern

Less than 2 hours 30 minutes none (a 10 min grace break should be provided if work permits)
2 hours 30 to 3 hours................10 mins.................. 10
3 hours 1 to 3 hours 30..... .......15 mins....................15
3 hours 31 to 4 hours 59..... .......20 mins.................. 20
5 hours to 7 hours................... 30 mins...................30
7 hours 1 to 8 hours 59..... .......40 mins..............40 or 20 + 20
9 hours to 10 hours 59...............50 mins................30 + 20
11 hours to 12 hours 59..... .......60 mins............. 40 + 20 or 30 + 30
13 hours or longer..... ..............70 mins..................40 + 30
I believe that it's also in The Way Forward Agreement
EdRush
Posts: 123
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 20:18
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by EdRush »

HairyHobbit wrote:
13 Nov 2021, 22:05
Is there any documentation to back up this meal relief entitlement? I’ve been working for 12 weeks or so and haven’t once been told my meal relief entitlement?

I’m expected to take enough delivery to take me up to my finishing time without a break, though…

(I do 8-9hr a day)
Don't work your breaks for free! If you haven't claimed overtime for your breaks for the last 12 weeks, at 8-9 hours per day, that could be 40+ hours. I would request a back pay, much like the "holiday pay" scandal, this is NOT on!!

Also don't expect the management to inform you/ or tell the truth of your employee rights. First point of reference should be a union rep
Frankie15
Posts: 200
Joined: 17 Oct 2019, 16:48
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by Frankie15 »

For every hour worked you're due 5 mins
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12132
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by SpacePhoenix »

Frankie15 wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 07:42
For every hour worked you're due 5 mins
Nope, wrong. see the chart above
mags999
Posts: 372
Joined: 25 Jun 2016, 11:05
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by mags999 »

doin this job 30 odd years dont take a break just finish 40 mins before finishin time no decent place to take a break so dont bother plus when 2 in a van makes it a bit awkward :Very Happy as long as the job gets done or you work to your time who givs a shittt
Frankie15
Posts: 200
Joined: 17 Oct 2019, 16:48
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by Frankie15 »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 08:47
Frankie15 wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 07:42
For every hour worked you're due 5 mins
Nope, wrong. see the chart above
That chart says if you work over 8 hours you're due 40 mins. So do the maths. 8×5=40
P13
Posts: 1016
Joined: 11 Oct 2007, 14:35
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by P13 »

Frankie15 wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 09:24
SpacePhoenix wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 08:47
Frankie15 wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 07:42
For every hour worked you're due 5 mins
Nope, wrong. see the chart above
That chart says if you work over 8 hours you're due 40 mins. So do the maths. 8×5=40
It also says if you work 7 hours 1 minute you get 40 mins break maybe you need to do the maths
HTPostman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1504
Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 23:53
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by HTPostman »

I don’t know why but I don’t like calling it meal relief, it just seems a really fancy name no doubt dreamt up by higher up when everyone else simply calls it ‘break.’ We have a few daft terms like that (work time learning, consolidation) here at RM which to me sums the company up, it’s a very simple job made unnecessarily complicated.

Anyway....I take 20 minutes indoors before heading out. We have quite a nice ‘meal relief’ area here. My second 20 minutes I don’t take and simply cut it off the end. The vans are filthy and there’s no way I’m eating in them. Likewise with the British weather I don’t count standing out in the open for 20 minutes as a break. Especially because when I’ve had a break in the van or stood outside it I often have people coming up to me tapping on the windows asking if I’ve got a parcel etc. Sometimes I’ll take that last 20 minutes indoors back at the DO, other days I just go home.

Doing it that way works well for me, there’s no arguments to be had with my van partner if they don’t want a break. Mind you, I would say only about 50% here actually have a break indoors.
The day is gonna come when we’re all gonna have to testify.

526
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12132
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by SpacePhoenix »

HTPostman wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 09:38
Sometimes I’ll take that last 20 minutes indoors back at the DO, other days I just go home.
You won't be able to just go home 20 minutes earlier once you've got the clocking in/out machines. It would have to be authorised by the DOM, otherwise it'll go down as you having gone home 20 mins early without permission
HTPostman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1504
Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 23:53
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by HTPostman »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 09:42
HTPostman wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 09:38
Sometimes I’ll take that last 20 minutes indoors back at the DO, other days I just go home.
You won't be able to just go home 20 minutes earlier once you've got the clocking in/out machines. It would have to be authorised by the DOM, otherwise it'll go down as you having gone home 20 mins early without permission
Fully aware of that, once they bring in the clocking machines it’s not a problem to me.
The day is gonna come when we’re all gonna have to testify.

526
yubin282
Posts: 989
Joined: 25 Jul 2014, 19:18
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by yubin282 »

I have an HCT duty, take 20 minutes before I leave the office and take the other 20 minutes while out on delivery around 12:30.

Usually trying to hide from the general public, foyer of a tower block is my usual place to hide.
olilew
Posts: 594
Joined: 19 May 2010, 22:04
Gender: Male

Re: Where do you take your Meal relief (break)

Post by olilew »

My partner and I take ours in the Wetherspoons on our delivery, a nice hot coffee or two.
"Just take it out and see how you go......."