Not allowed to leave work during Lunch break?

Zazen999

There are thousands upon thousands of people who work alone....this has happened because H&S has gone mad. If they identify a risk that is highly likely to lead to injury or puts a lone working staff member at risk; then they need to put adequate measures in place, and that does not mean stopping other staff members from having a lunch break.

LittleVoice

juliescot wrote: »

Any person would still need a break after six hours so as not to be in breach of the working time regulations.

Just to say that there is an entitlement to a break within the working time if it lasts more than six hours. There is no breach of the working time regulations if the break is not taken - as long as the employer would allow it.

Stageshoot

Hermia wrote: »

1 hour long lunch break (I work an 8 1/2 hour day). Often we end up taking the hour in chunks if it's a particularly busy day and the phones keep ringing. We don't mind doing it as it's only once a fortnight and the alternative would be us all working every Saturday so that we have proper cover - no one wants that!

If one of you goes out will that leave only one person in the office or the whole building? I am the only person in my department on a Saturday, but there are other people in the building.

No its the whole building, we are just an emergency cover team, so there is only the 2 of us in the whole builing (On the whole Office complex estate actually!) So if the one left on site had a problem, emergency services would need to get through 1 Pin number protected main gate and then 4 pin protected doors to the office. (Big sledgehammer job!)

juliescot

LittleVoice wrote: »

Just to say that there is an entitlement to a break within the working time if it lasts more than six hours. There is no breach of the working time regulations if the break is not taken - as long as the employer would allow it.

I should have of course said "entitled"

Zazen999

VickyHurn wrote: »

No its the whole building, we are just an emergency cover team, so there is only the 2 of us in the whole builing (On the whole Office complex estate actually!) So if the one left on site had a problem, emergency services would need to get through 1 Pin number protected main gate and then 4 pin protected doors to the office. (Big sledgehammer job!)

But, that's the management's job to manage...not yours!

If you have to stay behind, then you should be getting paid for it.

juliescot

VickyHurn wrote: »

No its the whole building, we are just an emergency cover team, so there is only the 2 of us in the whole builing (On the whole Office complex estate actually!) So if the one left on site had a problem, emergency services would need to get through 1 Pin number protected main gate and then 4 pin protected doors to the office. (Big sledgehammer job!)

And this will have all been identified in the risk assessment, and measures put in place to deal with it.:rolleyes:

Stageshoot

juliescot wrote: »

And this will have all been identified in the risk assessment, and measures put in place to deal with it.:rolleyes:

Yeah Right :mad: Like 2 weekends ago when the person with a key who normally unlocks in a morning was on holiday and no one had arranged for anyone to come and let us in, so after 2 hours stood in the car park we had to go home as no one else was available to come and let us in (And now they say that will be deducted from our holiday as we did not work the day)

As you can probably gather its a bit of a shambles and after coming from a well run operation (In terms of staff management), its all a bit of a shock, but when you are made redundant beggers can't be chosers!.

Baileys_Babe

I am somebody that works alone and review the risk assesment every 6 months.

Instead of you or colleague not leaving the building in your unpaid lunch break can you not take your break at the same time and close the offfice for an hour.

ohreally

It's time to join a trade union - please don't say thats not allowed either.

juliescot

VickyHurn wrote: »

Yeah Right :mad: Like 2 weekends ago when the person with a key who normally unlocks in a morning was on holiday and no one had arranged for anyone to come and let us in, so after 2 hours stood in the car park we had to go home as no one else was available to come and let us in (And now they say that will be deducted from our holiday as we did not work the day)

As you can probably gather its a bit of a shambles and after coming from a well run operation (In terms of staff management), its all a bit of a shock, but when you are made redundant beggers can't be chosers!.

You should be challenging this. You made yourself available for work and it was not your fault that you were unable to carry out your duties.

I do like Baileys Babe's idea of shutting the office.

From what you have said is it the case that when one of your colleagues takes their break, and you are the only person "working", have they been told to stay in the building?

I would ask your employers what the procedures are should something happen when you are on your own.