Law regarding rest breaks is disgusting

catkins

I guess I have been lucky in that when I was working full time in an office I got an hours lunch break and a morning and afternoon break of 10 minutes.

I then went into retail and again got exactly the same breaks whilst working an 8 hour day.

My last job I worked between 4 and 5 hours a day and got a 20 minute break.

I have just started a new job and am working 5 hours a day and do not get a break at all. My hours vary from 10-3, 11-4 and 12-5. So they all cover lunchtime.

I think it is disgusting that you are expected to work those hours with not only nothing to eat but no drink either. It is very unhealthy to go that amount of hours with nothing to drink.

Yesterday I needed the loo and what a fuss and performance to get someone to take over from me on the shop floor while I did so! Thank god this is only a Christmas job. There is a very good chance they will ask me to stay after Christmas but I know what my answer will be!

scheming_gypsy

do they say you can't have a drink or that you can't have a break? people on the tills in Asda will have a bottle of water on the till with them and people working in shops will have a drink under the counter.
There's a difference between having a break and having a drink while you carry on working.

GotToChange

catkins - Be afraid, be very afraid.

See the other thread re. Exploitation and lunchbreaks.

DCFC79

You can always sneak a drink frm the drinks machine once been to the toilet,

safesound

I have worked in retail for 20+ years and not a single shop (national or local) has allowed staff to have a drink under the counter, it really is the exception rather than the rule. The same goes for toilet breaks, if you are in a busy store with few staff and don't get a statutory break then you are expected to cross your legs for the whole shift.

claire16c

Ive worked in lots of different retailers and I used to bring a bottle of water with me in some, others Id just go out the back to get a quick drink, some I had a cup with me near the till. Ive seen people with them on the checkouts when I do my shopping. If I needed the loo, I went!! I wasnt about to even entertain a argument over that, I just told someone where I was going. not drinking for 5 hours is not healthy, Id get a headache or migraine if I did that.

Catkins can you not ask for a 10 min break to get something to eat, and offer to stay 10 mins later?

ohreally

DCFC79 wrote: »

You can always sneak a drink when you go to the toilet,

A WC is not a hygienic place for fluid intake, ff s we're not six year olds. If you need a drink you need a drink, its a simple as that.

DCFC79

ohreally wrote: »

A WC is not a hygienic place for fluid intake, ff s we're not six year olds. If you need a drink you need a drink, its a simple as that.

no you go to the toilet then go and get a drink from the drinks machine

ohreally

catkins wrote: »

It is very unhealthy to go that amount of hours with nothing to drink

Readily accessible potable drinking water must be provided for all employees. If the employer denies access to obtain a drink they may be in breach of a duty imposed upon them.

embob74

I had an admin job based on an outdoor, mucky site and chose not to go to the loo from the time I left home til I got back (8am to 6pm) so it can be done.
Mind you if you'd seen the portaloo it would make most people think twice about needing to go!
I've done 5 hour shifts before and yes it's annoying they are usually based over lunch period but I would just adjust my eating pattern to have something before I started which would carry me through until the shift ended.

Hammyman

catkins wrote: »

I have just started a new job and am working 5 hours a day and do not get a break at all. My hours vary from 10-3, 11-4 and 12-5. So they all cover lunchtime.

I think it is disgusting that you are expected to work those hours with not only nothing to eat but no drink either. It is very unhealthy to go that amount of hours with nothing to drink.

Absolute poppycock unless you're doing something like working in a kitchen. You know what the hours are so adjust your breakfast and lunchtime accordingly.