New job and lunch break

BonandDom

Hi,

Just need to check my understanding. Started a new job on Monday and was told as we are paid for our half hour lunch we are expected to eat at our desks so we are available to answer calls.

Office is not that busy that it needs four of us to answer calls..... am I right in thinking that they cannot legally 'hold us prisoners' during our lunch.

Ps: It is an 8 hour day
pss: This was not mentioned at the interview
pps: I'm not going to do anything about it anyway as I need the job and now my rights are very limited

t0rt0ise

You are right. Your break can be taken away from the workplace. Your employer is breaking the law.

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

ceridwen

if you don't feel confident enough to tell your employer "A lunchbreak is a lunchbreak is a lunchbreak - stop breaking the law and expecting me to work during it" then maybe a bit of subtle "sabotage" is in order?

That is - leave the phone receiver just VERY slightly off the hook during your lunchbreak - ie so that customers cant get through to you anyway;):)

dandelionclock30

I would just say that I had to have my lunchbreak away from the office as I had a lot of things to do in the 1/2 hour such as going to the bank, post office,pick up a prescription etc.I would say that its not possible to remain at the desk sorry.

upsadaisy

Perhaps you could suggest a lunchtime rota, so that two have lunch and two stay on call.

BonandDom

t0rt0ise wrote: »

You are right. Your break can be taken away from the workplace. Your employer is breaking the law.

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

Thank you - always like it when I'm right, brought the subject up today saying i use my lunches to 'do things' but I know theres not alot I can do

proactive

you need breaks away from the computer screen anyway. and i can't see how they can in all good conciousness expecting you to work for free answering calls during an unpaid dinner break.

BonandDom

proactive wrote: »

you need breaks away from the computer screen anyway. and i can't see how they can in all good conciousness expecting you to work for free answering calls during an unpaid dinner break.

I think because the boss pays us for our lunch he feels he is entitled to ask us to stay at the office.

TBH the law protects the employer until you've been there 12 months and then you are in the position of having accepted the working conditions for 12 months.

Think its back to the job search for me as I do seriously have a lot to do during my lunch time, banking, phone calls to organise hubbys business, entering DD into competitions etc

proactive

sorry thought you said it was an unpaid lunch break. if it's paid and you're answering phones during it, it's not a lunch break really is it? i mean lets call a spade a spade here, it's just the same as the rest of the day but during this half hour you've been told you can eat your sandwich or whatever.

a lunch break is a period where you can leave and eat your dinner if you want.

LadyMissA

paid or not paid you are allowed 20 mins break so I would just tell them I am going for a break

LadyMissA

BonandDom wrote: »

pps: I'm not going to do anything about it anyway as I need the job and now my rights are very limited

and you have no rights to a 20 min break away from the desk? Whatever anyone says it's law and they are breaking it but I have read a lot of posts like this on here this last few weeks and I can only say that employers are taking the P out of staff as they know they can get away with it if you aren't prepared to say something about it.

Did you get given a contract?