Split Breaks

[bandit650]

Soon our office is going into the new revision times. What I would like to know is what are the break times for other offices around the country? We are going to start at 6.30 am and we have got to take our full 40 minutes break at 8 20am before we go out then work right through till 2.30pm, saying that the drivers have been told they can take their break at the end of the shift due to the times of the special deliveries they deliver.
I Know its legal looking at Direct.gov.uk but just wondering is all other offices following suit or is it our DOM just been silly?

If you are having a break at 08.20 and being told to take 40 minutes then you would be back for 09.00,this is not in the middle of your duty which is what the working time directive says,it would also mean that you would be working more than 5 hrs(this being the max under the working time directive) without a break which is not exceptable under the working time directive either,your union rep should be making clear to your manager what is required under the law,the drivers can not take any part of thier meal break at the end of thier duty because the directive also says that your meal break must not be taken as/or part of the front or end of your duty it says the middle of your duty.I would say that your DOM is being alittle short sighted and as staff i would say you should all stick together,if there is a problem with specials deliverys then your DOM should face facts and deal with it but that does not mean he/she can break laws.Go to your Area Rep or get in touch with the Branch of your union and tell them get them to do something after all thats what we pay for.

[johnnyp]

09.20 -10.00 Meal Break
06.00 -14.00 Times of Attendance

[POSTMAN]

Split breaks are actually mentioned in the way forward...

[Lounge Lizard]

I thought under H&S that you are not allowed to work for more than 4 hours without a break

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this but I need as much info from other offices in what kind of pattern they take their breaks.
In the direct.gov.com website it states > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle.Yet in my office from starting at 6.30 am till 2.30 pm they want you to take your break at 8.20 am knowing full well idiots will work through it. 8 20.am is not middle in my calculations. Now I am hearing the DOM has told the drivers they can take their break at the end but direct.go.uk says > it cannot be taken off one end of the working day. Seems my office is clearly defying the rules.
The requirements are:

•the break must be in one block

•it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle

•you are allowed to spend it away from the place on your employer's premises where you work

•your employer can say when the break must be taken, as long as it meets these conditions

"it must be somewhere in the middle" - but that's too vague. How near the middle ?