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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

JKSmudge
Posts: 395
Joined: 26 Mar 2015, 13:39
Gender: Male

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

Post by JKSmudge »

Only job I have had that pays to sit down,have a bite to eat,drink and a smoke.

Why would you not take it? :crazy:
Kenfandango
Posts: 694
Joined: 19 Oct 2021, 16:40
Gender: Male

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

Post by Kenfandango »

I'm not yet quick enough to take mine and finish anywhere near on time. My routes are always rurals a good 20-35 minutes drive from the depot, so I'm already a god 45 minutes or more down just in travel time
Ozzvaldo
Posts: 475
Joined: 15 Jul 2012, 20:35
Gender: Female

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

Post by Ozzvaldo »

We're not allowed to take our break at the end of the delivery and go home ahead of our listed finishing time. They expect us to take a break between prep and going out on delivery, or during delivery. Anybody arriving back to the office early is sent out again, even if they genuinely haven't had a break. As a result, most people take their break now. Been this way for years in my office.
Phantom
Posts: 1234
Joined: 27 Dec 2007, 18:17
Gender: Female
Location: New York

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

Post by Phantom »

Kenfandango wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 14:54
I'm not yet quick enough to take mine and finish anywhere near on time. My routes are always rurals a good 20-35 minutes drive from the depot, so I'm already a god 45 minutes or more down just in travel time
:no no
CUT OFF!!!
Phantom
Posts: 1234
Joined: 27 Dec 2007, 18:17
Gender: Female
Location: New York

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

Post by Phantom »

Ozzvaldo wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 15:43
We're not allowed to take our break at the end of the delivery and go home ahead of our listed finishing time. They expect us to take a break between prep and going out on delivery, or during delivery. Anybody arriving back to the office early is sent out again, even if they genuinely haven't had a break. As a result, most people take their break now. Been this way for years in my office.
That's the way it should be done.
CUT OFF!!!
theotherone
Posts: 430
Joined: 04 Jun 2020, 21:58
Gender: Male

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

Post by theotherone »

On my sofa.Local agreement we have it took off end of duty.
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16614
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

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

Post by clashcityrocker »

theotherone wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 16:19
On my sofa.Local agreement we have it took off end of duty.
You can't have a local agreement that is contrary to a national agreement and the law.
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
theotherone
Posts: 430
Joined: 04 Jun 2020, 21:58
Gender: Male

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

Post by theotherone »

clashcityrocker wrote:
15 Nov 2021, 14:56
theotherone wrote:
14 Nov 2021, 16:19
On my sofa.Local agreement we have it took off end of duty.
You can't have a local agreement that is contrary to a national agreement and the law.
Well we are breaking the law then and contradicting national agreements. All displayed finish times are with your meal relief took the end.
Splappy_McSplap
Posts: 226
Joined: 02 Sep 2009, 13:55
Gender: Male

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

Post by Splappy_McSplap »

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
AFAIK it is in the Way Forward Agreement that if you have had your indoor break (so, 20 minutes before going out on delivery) "attendance is not required" for the second 20 minutes. So, unless they have amended the agreement I don't see how having machines will make any difference.
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 »

Splappy_McSplap wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 16:09
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
AFAIK it is in the Way Forward Agreement that if you have had your indoor break (so, 20 minutes before going out on delivery) "attendance is not required" for the second 20 minutes. So, unless they have amended the agreement I don't see how having machines will make any difference.
How will they know that you're having the break at the end? They can't, they'll just see you going home early without permission
DaveF14
Posts: 184
Joined: 18 Sep 2009, 17:38
Gender: Male

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

Post by DaveF14 »

Once/twice a week at the end of my delivery, on my rural duty, I will park the van up and go for a 5 mile run. Usually get about 5/6 miles in my 40 minute meal relief. Helps with the marathon training. Every mile counts. Vans empty before anyone says.
Splappy_McSplap
Posts: 226
Joined: 02 Sep 2009, 13:55
Gender: Male

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

Post by Splappy_McSplap »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 19:39
Splappy_McSplap wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 16:09
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
AFAIK it is in the Way Forward Agreement that if you have had your indoor break (so, 20 minutes before going out on delivery) "attendance is not required" for the second 20 minutes. So, unless they have amended the agreement I don't see how having machines will make any difference.
How will they know that you're having the break at the end? They can't, they'll just see you going home early without permission
Don't know how it is in other offices, but leaving 20 minutes "early" (which is actually the second break) is common practice in mine, and well known by the managers, including the DOM.

Although, our DOM hadn't even heard of the Way Forward Agreement until I told her about it around five years ago and quoted that specific part, so maybe the majority of DOMs are also unaware of this.
Last edited by Splappy_McSplap on 16 Nov 2021, 21:54, edited 1 time in total.
postieblueshirt
Posts: 1241
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 22:05
Gender: Male

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

Post by postieblueshirt »

Same in mine 20 before 20 at end tend not to eat or drink tho,nowhere near a toilet so I'm not getting caught in a garden or hedge or wherever.
TOWER1
Posts: 95
Joined: 24 Sep 2019, 16:05
Gender: Male

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

Post by TOWER1 »

Van..picnic...v careful with food, rubbish etc..pity others are not. Wonder do they live like that at home...
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 »

Splappy_McSplap wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 21:44
SpacePhoenix wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 19:39
Splappy_McSplap wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 16:09
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
AFAIK it is in the Way Forward Agreement that if you have had your indoor break (so, 20 minutes before going out on delivery) "attendance is not required" for the second 20 minutes. So, unless they have amended the agreement I don't see how having machines will make any difference.
How will they know that you're having the break at the end? They can't, they'll just see you going home early without permission
Don't know how it is in other offices, but leaving 20 minutes "early" (which is actually the second break) is common practice in mine, and well known by the managers, including the DOM.

Although, our DOM hadn't even heard of the Way Forward Agreement until I told her about it around five years ago and quoted that specific part, so maybe the majority of DOMs are also unaware of this.
Higher up won't see that you're taking part of your break at the end if you go early. They'll just see someone leaving 20 mins early. Say there's 50 of you and your all taking 20 mins break at the end. That'll be about 16.5 hours that they see not being used, so they might take 16.5 hours out of the office.