Exploitation and no lunch hour.

Martynb_

So I did my first day on the job without pay - voluntary for about 4 weeks. But, the boss is a slave-driver for sure and doesn't allow his staff a lunch hour. The women who work there are allowed to stand at the till drinking a cup of tea and eating a piece of toast. But only once. I cannot cope with their 'banter' and sexual innuendo.

Me? I need a meal. I need to sit down to a meal. I'm not on the till, but I'm doing all the graft like bringing in the delivery, moving metal shelves and stuff. Hard work and certainly not worth minimum wage in my opinion. The women might not need to eat, but I do. I need to keep my energy levels up, especially if I intend to go to the gym afterwards.

I just feel that I'm being exploited.

Should I really be working for a company which doesn't respect its staff?

Jarndyce

Martynb_ wrote: »

So I did my first day on the job without pay - voluntary for about 4 weeks. But, the boss is a slave-driver for sure and doesn't allow his staff a lunch hour. The women who work there are allowed to stand at the till drinking a cup of tea and eating a piece of toast. But only once. I cannot cope with their 'banter' and sexual innuendo.

Me? I need a meal. I need to sit down to a meal. I'm not on the till, but I'm doing all the graft like bringing in the delivery, moving metal shelves and stuff. Hard work and certainly not worth minimum wage in my opinion. The women might not need to eat, but I do. I need to keep my energy levels up, especially if I intend to go to the gym afterwards.

I just feel that I'm being exploited.

Should I really be working for a company which doesn't respect its staff?

No. Next question?

LadyMissA

work programme? Report the company and the provider of the Work Programme as they are allowing this to happen

scheming_gypsy

Sounds like you need to man up and grow some balls.

you're the new person and the women who work there are having a laugh with you but you're pulling your face.
Are you working enough hours to get a lunch break - not that you'd get an hour

Caroline_a

No, you don't necessarily need a sit-down meal. Most of the high-level athletes I know (some of whom are international level) don't make a fuss about lunchtime eating - if the option to cook a meal isn't there, they will top up on pasta/protein shakes/ etc.

You either want the job or not... most people I know in work rarely have a lunch-hour away from their desks, sat down eating a meal!

Jarndyce

And at the risk of starting another 10 page thread, remember that unwanted sexual banter and innuendo in the workplace constitute sexual harassment, and that workers are entitled to a 20 minute break if they are working a shift over 6 hours long.

I'm not saying you should raise complaints about either or both on your first day, but you should at least know your rights.

Martynb_

Caroline_a wrote: »

No, you don't necessarily need a sit-down meal. Most of the high-level athletes I know (some of whom are international level) don't make a fuss about lunchtime eating - if the option to cook a meal isn't there, they will top up on pasta/protein shakes/ etc.

You either want the job or not... most people I know in work rarely have a lunch-hour away from their desks, sat down eating a meal!

I cannot afford protein shakes. I'm on JSA.

Jarndyce

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Sounds like you need to man up and grow some balls.

you're the new person and the women who work there are having a laugh with you but you're pulling your face.
Are you working enough hours to get a lunch break - not that you'd get an hour

So do you condone sexual harassment at work?

LadyMissA

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Sounds like you need to man up and grow some balls.

you're the new person and the women who work there are having a laugh with you but you're pulling your face.
Are you working enough hours to get a lunch break - not that you'd get an hour

so if was a group of blokes 'having a laugh' with a new girl it would be ok?

Martynb_

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Sounds like you need to man up and grow some balls.

you're the new person and the women who work there are having a laugh with you but you're pulling your face.
Are you working enough hours to get a lunch break - not that you'd get an hour

They do it with everyone and each other. Really annoying sometimes. I just don't share their sense of humour. I did 5 hours today, but no-one no matter what hours they do gets a break. If I am planing on working there 9-5 I'm going to need food to keep me going. 5 hours and blood sugars started to drop, and I couldn't finish lifting over a hundred heavy metal shelves up two flights of stairs...on my own.

Martynb_

LadyMissA wrote: »

so it was a group of blokes 'having a laugh' with a new girl it would be ok?

No. I'm the bloke. They are the women.