Dept Store Working Hours With No Break

BexInLondon

I've worked 17 hours days eating on the go in charity management and been fine. When I worked in retail as a teenager I'd get home from 6 hours (with a break) and feel exhausted. It's sad that so many people have been so harsh to the OP about this.

Excellent post Paulwf.

OP - though I've said I found it exhausting it does get easier! Invest in comfy shoes , keep a bottle of water by your till and just ask if you need the loo. As it gets closer to Christmas customers will get more stressy but a fair few get all jolly and it makes it more fun. Get plenty of vitamin C down you to keep colds at bay. Your standing-up-muscles will get stronger in time!

amy_lou_4

BexInLondon wrote: »

Your standing-up-muscles will get stronger in time!

My goodness, I hope so! I have now done five or six shifts in retail of standing up for four or five hours at a time (and strolling around the shop for a stretch) and my back has been aching! Feel like I have turned into my dad, doing stretching exercises up the wall and groaning

vixarooni

I do think people are being harsh here, i normally work 5 hours without a break but ive been doing that for four years so im used to it. My first 12 hour shift killed me! Now its a walk in the park. It does get easier, but just ask to go to the loo or get a drink whenever. Im lucky in that its all relaxed where i work and we can go to the loo or get a drink as we please (although some abuse it a bit!)

Normally you need a break from the hellish mood most of the customers are in at this time of the year, rather than a drink and a wee. You only need to see some of the replies here for evidence of that!

terra_ferma

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 is, indeed, nothing.

I thought it was a H&S requirement to provide a loo, and that you'd get a portaloo?

sequence

No loo is better than a porta loo on site

Truegho

Hey you, zip it! You have got a damn cheek saying what you said.

You want to get your facts right before you start jumping to the wrong conclusions about people.

Anihilator wrote: »

Finally got a job have you. I wonder why it took so long when you think this is worth moaning about.

4-5 Hours is part time so of course you don't get breaks.

Retail stores deliberately go for shorter shifts so staff don't need breaks etc

Maybe you should just be grateful that you finally found someone who looked past your crap CV and experience and that you are no longer scrounging off the taxpayer although with your attitude I give that a few weeks.

Oldernotwiser

paulwf wrote: »

I would extend this to retail. If an employee has a moderate cold you can usually get through a shift due to regular breaks. With a 6 hour non-stop shift at the first sign of illness you know you aren't going to get through it and will have to call in sick.

Retail employees with "moderate colds" can infect all those they come into contact with, including people for whom an infection could be life threatening. I wish they'd stay at home!

lesleyvhalifax

i have recently completed a 15 hr shift with just and hrs break and it was a night shift as well

Oldernotwiser

I agree that good employers should be flexible and look after their staff but it is annoying when someone like the OP comes on here to whinge about something so commonplace.

KimYeovil

sequence wrote: »

Outstanding post! Unfortunately most managers in the country have no clue about these things - and never will.

A Pollyanna-ish post. Unfortunately most workers in this country have no clue about common decency and hard work and can not be relied on to be reasonable.