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Discrimination and Unlawful deductions?

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Comments

  • shegirl wrote: »
    How horrific *sighs* seriously,you think these rules are awful?

    Can I ask why people are eating cereal at work btw?Just curious

    You do say that you didn't make up the time you are meant to on the same day as required.If you are going to continue as a smoker at work at least make sure you stick the the rules on making up the time on the same day,that way you won't be having any problems.

    I won't comment on the rest as to be honest I'm finding it bizarre and humurous

    Edited to add: are the smoking breaks at set times? Are you allowed to have them at a different time if you are in meeting or something? If you're expected to make up the time when you haven't had them due to meetings etc does that suggest that you can have the breaks at another point in the day and it's assumed this is done?

    The rules were changed AFTER I had already made the time up. There was no mention prior to this that you had to make it up the same day. I can agree that rules are rules but you have to draw a line somewhere. I did try and comply with the rules but was then told about other rules that seemed to materialize just to make life hard. The breaks can only be taken at 10.45-11.00am and 3.30 to 3.45pm. If you miss these times you will lose your break but must still make up the time at the end of the day.
  • shegirl
    shegirl Posts: 10,107 Forumite
    BottomRung wrote: »
    I am attempting to not smoke at work, it is a massive struggle and is hard to concentrate. This is only because the rules are being changed to make it impossible for me to comply.

    How are the rules being changed?

    Personally,I've never had smoking breaks at work but it was ok,I would have one at lunch instead as long as I was out of the office! It surprises me to hear of so many places giving smoking breaks
    If women are birds and freedom is flight are trapped women Dodos?
  • shegirl
    shegirl Posts: 10,107 Forumite
    BottomRung wrote: »
    The rules were changed AFTER I had already made the time up. There was no mention prior to this that you had to make it up the same day. I can agree that rules are rules but you have to draw a line somewhere. I did try and comply with the rules but was then told about other rules that seemed to materialize just to make life hard. The breaks can only be taken at 10.45-11.00am and 3.30 to 3.45pm. If you miss these times you will lose your break but must still make up the time at the end of the day.


    Ah,you didn't say that in your original post. Are you making them aware of whether you've had smoking breaks or not or are they assuming the breaks are always taken?
    If women are birds and freedom is flight are trapped women Dodos?
  • shegirl wrote: »
    Ah,you didn't say that in your original post. Are you making them aware of whether you've had smoking breaks or not or are they assuming the breaks are always taken?

    The rules are that if you are registered as a smoker you must work 30 mins extra each day ergardless of whether you take 1, 2 or no breaks. Not sure how this would work if you are off sick or on holiday as you would still be registered as a smoker but not making time up. I would happily make up the time if I took 2 breaks but can only do this if I get in early enough to do this. As I can no longer guarantee getting in 30 mins early every day it is impossible to be registered as a smoker.
  • shegirl
    shegirl Posts: 10,107 Forumite
    BottomRung wrote: »
    The rules are that if you are registered as a smoker you must work 30 mins extra each day ergardless of whether you take 1, 2 or no breaks. Not sure how this would work if you are off sick or on holiday as you would still be registered as a smoker but not making time up. I would happily make up the time if I took 2 breaks but can only do this if I get in early enough to do this. As I can no longer guarantee getting in 30 mins early every day it is impossible to be registered as a smoker.

    Can you make up the hours after your official finish time?

    I hate to sound off,but it really does sound silly saying it's impossible to be registered as a smoker and that the new rules are making it impossible to comply. You either keep yourself registered as a smoker or you don't and don't smoke at work.You'd get used to it.

    Is this more about the fact that pay has been deducted or due to the difficulties of smoking at work?Because with some of the comments it seems to be more about the latter.

    Ps can those who are now eating dry weetabix not have something other than cereal at work?Or bring their own milk?Sorry,but the thinking that,the car parking and the way the smoking has been talked about just comes across as daft!
    If women are birds and freedom is flight are trapped women Dodos?
  • shegirl wrote: »
    Can you make up the hours after your official finish time?

    I hate to sound off,but it really does sound silly saying it's impossible to be registered as a smoker and that the new rules are making it impossible to comply. You either keep yourself registered as a smoker or you don't and don't smoke at work.You'd get used to it.

    Is this more about the fact that pay has been deducted or due to the difficulties of smoking at work?Because with some of the comments it seems to be more about the latter.

    Ps can those who are now eating dry weetabix not have something other than cereal at work?Or bring their own milk?Sorry,but the thinking that,the car parking and the way the smoking has been talked about just comes across as daft!


    I don't actually eat breakfast at work so it was just an example of the type of official memo's we get from this woman. The car parking thing is pretty funny as the building is not getting dirty from anyones car yet she still sometimes forgets her own rules and parks the wrong way. I guess my point is that over the years i've worked here I have given far more time than I have taken and yet they now deduct money from me for time I thought was already made up for. Of course this would grind on you a bit. My other point is that no matter how I try and comply to their rules regarding smoking they will change the rules to make complying difficult. I also do not mind making up time that I have taken to smoke but I find it hard to swallow that I have to make up time I have not taken. It's basically just forcing smokers to work extra 2.5 hours a week for just taking a quick 5 min break twice a day. That just seems a little extreme to me and stinks of discrimination. Should the people chatting about football for half the day also be forced to register as football fans and therefore work 30 mins extra per day?
  • shegirl
    shegirl Posts: 10,107 Forumite
    BottomRung wrote: »
    I don't actually eat breakfast at work so it was just an example of the type of official memo's we get from this woman. The car parking thing is pretty funny as the building is not getting dirty from anyones car yet she still sometimes forgets her own rules and parks the wrong way. I guess my point is that over the years i've worked here I have given far more time than I have taken and yet they now deduct money from me for time I thought was already made up for. Of course this would grind on you a bit. My other point is that no matter how I try and comply to their rules regarding smoking they will change the rules to make complying difficult. I also do not mind making up time that I have taken to smoke but I find it hard to swallow that I have to make up time I have not taken. It's basically just forcing smokers to work extra 2.5 hours a week for just taking a quick 5 min break twice a day. That just seems a little extreme to me and stinks of discrimination. Should the people chatting about football for half the day also be forced to register as football fans and therefore work 30 mins extra per day?

    Are the people chatting about football going outside to do so?

    I've never taken only 5 minutes to smoke tbh

    Anyway,as I asked...are they aware that you don't always have your smoking breaks?It may be something to discuss with them.Have you talked to them about this yet?
    If women are birds and freedom is flight are trapped women Dodos?
  • LadyMissA
    LadyMissA Posts: 3,263 Forumite
    'discriminating against smokers in this way'

    Surely it's the other way round as the non smokers dont get a 2 x 15 break? Regardless of if you have to make up the time or not they do not have to give any smoking breaks at all.


  • BottomRung
    BottomRung Posts: 161 Forumite
    edited 11 November 2011 at 1:24PM
    They are aware that I didn't always take a break but it makes no difference. If you are registered you have to make up the time regardless of whether you take a break or not. I tried to discuss it but the woman in question is not open to discussion or compromise in any way. She see's it as losing face if she compromises.

    Also it takes roughly 5 mins to get to the smoking shelter, have a ciggie and get back to my desk. It's not far away and I don't stand about chatting, I smoke and come back. Or did. I'm not looking to rip the company off, in fact i used to be happy to give them my time if needed, but now they are ripping me off I kind of feel loathe to do this for them.
  • LadyMissA wrote: »
    'discriminating against smokers in this way'

    Surely it's the other way round as the non smokers dont get a 2 x 15 break? Regardless of if you have to make up the time or not they do not have to give any smoking breaks at all.


    Most of my colleagues spend their time talking footie, golf or TV for a LOT longer than 15 mins a day. I don't. I work my hours and in fact am doing 2 peoples jobs at the moment as a colleague is unwell so have no time for chatting.
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