Work Breaks

[Gragson]

One of my boys has been working at at a localish engineering company for about 6 months, PAYE.
The pay is not great, but as starting unskilled he is grateful and learning, tool setting etc but mostly a lot of dirty work until he learns and is more able on his own.

I'm not naming the company as I don't want to get him into trouble, but was surprised when chatting today that he gets 30mins for lunch and no other official breaks. 8 hours is the standard day but he nearly always works from 8 to 6 to get some more hours in a week, still with just the 30min lunch break.

Regardless, he won't complain but just wondered if that is all a company is obliged to give.
Seems a bit stingy to me..

 

[8ob]

One of my boys has been working at at a localish engineering company for about 6 months, PAYE.
The pay is not great, but as starting unskilled he is grateful and learning, tool setting etc but mostly a lot of dirty work until he learns and is more able on his own.

I'm not naming the company as I don't want to get him into trouble, but was surprised when chatting today that he gets 30mins for lunch and no other official breaks. 8 hours is the standard day but he nearly always works from 8 to 6 to get some more hours in a week, still with just the 30min lunch break.

Regardless, he won't complain but just wondered if that is all a company is obliged to give.
Seems a bit stingy to me..

Cant comment on his hours @Gragson but you should be very proud of the little fella.

Bob

 

[mpats]

We work an 11.5 hour day and have a 30 min unpaid break. Now to be fair, we take plenty of other brakes, as and when needed or if there is time but I think I recall looking into this not long ago and the working time directive is something like 30 mins if it's over 6 1/2 hours in work. But I could be wrong on that, would need to look it up.

 

[keithski122]

I'll stop mid morning for a cuppa and a sandwich, sit on my bench for the sandwich, drink the tea as I work.30 mins for lunch sat at the seat next to my bench.Cuppa and some fruit mid afternoon.Eight and a half hour day.

 

[armalites]

You'll be amazed that workers only have the right to one uninterrupted 20min break if they work more than 6 hours.

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

 

[mpats]

You'll be amazed that workers only have the rights to one uninterrupted 20min break if they work more than 6 hours.

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

That's the one.

 

[Welderpaul]

he gets 30mins for lunch and no other official breaks. 8 hours is the standard day but he nearly always works from 8 to 6 to get some more hours in a week, still with just the 30min lunch break.

Seems a bit stingy to me..

The minimum break is something like 20 mins per day when working over a 6 hour shift. There is a clause that states breaks should be sufficient to provide rest when doing repetetive work etc IIRC

In the case of an accident the company he works for may struggle to demonstrate to HSE that they were providing sufficient rest time during the working day.

Yeah, tight arses.

 

[armalites]

The interesting part of the wording is uninterrupted so technically if you boss comes over and chats about work half way through the clock starts again. We all know a probation period wouldn't last long if you started playing that game.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Gragson It'll be stated somewhere in his Contract of Employment, surely?

 

[Gragson]

Thanks for the replies gents, puts things in perspective for me at least.
@Bob, he is a good lad and I am proud of him, just wondered why he hadnt eaten the sandwiches I made him the other day and he said he ran out of time

His older brother is an apprenticeship trained carpenter, works on recording studios, did a job in Switzerland a while back and the dude who was having the job done in his house came up to him and said what a great job they were doing, one of his older work mates said - do you know who that was? - Dan says no, - that was Phil Collins! Dan says "who's that?" ****** myself True story.

 

[Gragson]

@Gragson It'll be stated somewhere in his Contract of Employment, surely?

Errr, I would ask him if he even has one, but that would start the "what are you up to" discussion

 

[brightspark]

when I worked for a firm started at 8 am 10 mins at ten o clock break half hour at dinner time took unofficial break at 3 and finished at half four . gaffer whinged at the 3 oclock break so I told him he will be sorry if I didn't get it

 

[Welderpaul]

Errr, I would ask him if he even has one, but that would start the "what are you up to" discussion

I'd suggest it's probably the tip of the iceberg. Maybe not, but i've seen a lot of firms who think they are still in the dark ages.

 

[tlovatt]

There are minimum in work breaks (which can be unpaid) but as above is 20 mins uninterrupted if the working day if over 6 hours, there are no restrictions on when the break is taken other than it must not be first or last thing.
If the work is of a monotonous or at a pre-determined rate then 'sufficient' breaks must be allowed.
There are then minimum rest breaks in each 24 hour period (11 hours)
A minimum rest break of 24 hours in each 7 days
Then unless he has opted out he will be limited to an average of 48 hours per week over a 17 week reference period (this can be changed by collective agreement)
He should also get 5.6 weeks holiday a year (including bank holidays) but if he works weekends this is capped at 28 days in total
If he is under 18 then slightly different rules apply.

If the breaks are unpaid, then provided he does not feel unsafe or stressed he is probably better sticking to 30 mins and having more time at home.

The above does not generally apply to senior managers as they are on unmeasured time and have to look after themselves

Working Time Regulations 1998

 

[tlovatt]

Errr, I would ask him if he even has one, but that would start the "what are you up to" discussion

He must have a contract of employment, he is turning up for work and they are paying him, there is a contract.

 

[brightspark]

He must have a contract of employment, he is turning up for work and they are paying him, there is a contract.

not always I never had one

 

[Welderpaul]

not always I never had one

As soon as you turn up, and they pay you, there is an implied contract.

 

[tlovatt]

not always I never had one

Yes you did, contracts do not have to be in writing, see ERA s230(2)

In this Act “contract of employment” means a contract of service or apprenticeship, whether express or implied, and (if it is express) whether oral or in writing.

If the contract is oral then he has a right to a section 1 statement of key terms, but the contract remains oral

 

[owas]

Current place is 8 hours with one 20 minute break which I prefer over my last place that had one 15 min and one 30 min break, means you can get out quicker.

No-one works in the last hour here though (Inc all the senior staff) so really it's more

 

[Water skier 16]

I’m feeling very lucky with my breaks after this thread. Paid 2 hours. I work 745- 1700 1 hour at 10 and 1 at 1300 I’m paye with benefits