Dept Store Working Hours With No Break

Truegho

Does anybody know the full rules regarding entitlement to a break when working for a department store? I have just started as a Christmas temp for a large store, and apparently I cannot have a break until I have worked at least SIX HOURS per day! The job is physically exhausting, as I am on my feet for the hours I am contracted to, which are normally four-to five hours per day. Is this right that they can deny me a break, as I have heard that in some stores the staff are entitled to a 15 minute break after just two hours of working?

MrC_Beds

If your working day is over six hours in duration, then you are entitled to a break of 20 minutes:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029451

faded_flowers

If you're over 18 it's a 15 minute break if you work 6 hours. You'll get used to it.

Truegho

What, "get used to it?" Oh sure! Being rushed off your aching feet for hours on end - without even being allowed to quench your agonisingly parched throat either - is DEFINITELY something every slave-driven shop worker can get used to!

faded_flowers wrote: »

If you're over 18 it's a 15 minute break if you work 6 hours. You'll get used to it.

dmg24

Truegho wrote: »

What, "get used to it?" Oh sure! Being rushed off your aching feet for hours on end - without even being allowed to quench your agonisingly parched throat either - is DEFINITELY something every slave-driven shop worker can get used to!

Stop being so silly. Many of us have worked such hours at some point, and I not aware of anybody that has died of dehydration or exhaustion.

As faded_flowers have suggested, you will get used to it.

Fivefootsix

I used to work in retail and used to start at 6/7am some days. If I was only working 4 hours then I wasn't entitled to a break but used to ask my manager if I could have 15 mins to get a drink and some breakfast and then work the time over at the end of my shift.

If it's proving that much of a problem then ask your manager if you can have a little break and work over, but obviously they are well within their rights to say no and all depends on how leniant they are. Like faded_flowers said, you will probably find you will get used to it.

Vader123

I cannot have a break until I have worked at least SIX HOURS per day!

This is correct. You are not entitled to a break (and then unpaid) until after 6 hours.

Vaderq

woody01

Truegho wrote: »

What, "get used to it?" Oh sure! Being rushed off your aching feet for hours on end - without even being allowed to quench your agonisingly parched throat either - is DEFINITELY something every slave-driven shop worker can get used to!

Do you have any idea how pathetic you sound!
4-5 hours a day is NOTHING.

Zazen999

Try being a girl and working on construction sites from 7am to 8pm and the only loo being at the nearby Maccie D's. Concrete is alot heavier than anything you'll find in a department store. 4-5 hours a day is, indeed, nothing.

C_Mababejive

Now you know why millions prefer to sit on their backsides at home either skiving or pretending to be sick.

See here....

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/daily_and_weekly_breaks

For info,it is not uncommon for me to work a 10 hour day and have 30 minutes lunch break.....thats it....and i work for a major international company though not in the retail sector which is known to be ..err..."challenging".

Vader123

Zazen999 wrote: »

Try being a girl and working on construction sites from 7am to 8pm and the only loo being at the nearby Maccie D's. Concrete is alot heavier than anything you'll find in a department store. 4-5 hours a day in, indeed, nothing.

Not quite sure why that only applies and hinders girls!

Vader