Discrimination and Unlawful deductions?

Any

BottomRung wrote: »

Thanks fior understanding me, we DO have a clocking system and must clock out for our breaks if we take one but still must make up the time of we don't. And the time must be made up after work not during the break. My contract hasn't changed to signify any of this. Its quite depressing really as prior to this i was a model employee, now i'm made to be not so good because of a rule change. What makes it worse is the one person that was taking the mickey and caused all thses rule changes has quit smoking so we are left with the flak.. He's not so popular at the moment.

Well this is simply ridiculous. I can see why you would be demoralised.
I would:
- take it up with someone higher up. HR or someone, keep it clear and down to this one issue, that even though they can see how much time you used for your break it is not reasonable to expect 30 mins per day even though it does not amounts to the time spent taking the break

- look for new job

- or stop smoking during working hours.

I would most likely do the last 2 together - most places I know of only have smoking during lunch hour, try to down it to that and get a normal job where they don't have ex prison warden for a supervisor.

Any

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Excellent, common sense answer.

OP, I actually think the employer is being flexible here. If you want to take extra breaks to smoke, you can opt into this scheme. If you do not, you opt out. What is difficult about that?

(And yes, I am a smoker.)

It is a common sense answer, the problem is that the supervisor is not seeing it that way.

I do think it is flexible to a point - they are allowed to smoke... but for price three times of it's worth...

It's like saying "yes you can come to work every day half an hour late after you dropped of your kids at school, but in return you will stay an hour behind".

I think that is what makes it taste bitter.

bobajob_1966

Any wrote: »

It is a common sense answer, the problem is that the supervisor is not seeing it that way.

I do think it is flexible to a point - they are allowed to smoke... but for price three times of it's worth...

It's like saying "yes you can come to work every day half an hour late after you dropped of your kids at school, but in return you will stay an hour behind".

I think that is what makes it taste bitter.

If the breaks are not 'worth' it, then you don't take them. I really fail to see the issue here!

shegirl

I'm sat here timing how long it takes to smoke one ciggy.5 minutes gets me half way through one... Are you sure op that it only takes 5 minutes for you to leave your desk,go outside,spark up,smoke a fag and get back inside to your desk? If your dragging hard enough to do it all in five minutes that really isn't good lol

BottomRung

I appreciate the situation from my side and the employers side but in my opinion a smoker that is forced to not smoke will be less productive than a smoker that is allowed a quick ciggie morning and afternoon, that just my opinion. Also they would gain more from me personally if they hadn't deducted money from me (without a breakdown or prior warning) as i'd be happier to stay out on site later or travel further getting back after my contracted hours, which is now going to be a tough decision to make given the circumstances. It is the whole way they have gone about this which has made me unhappy and in the long run they will lose more than they gain. Over the years they have had hundreds of extra hours out of me willingly.

BottomRung

shegirl wrote: »

I'm sat here timing how long it takes to smoke one ciggy.5 minutes gets me half way through one... Are you sure op that it only takes 5 minutes for you to leave your desk,go outside,spark up,smoke a fag and get back inside to your desk? If your dragging hard enough to do it all in five minutes that really isn't good lol

that must be one looong cigarette. I know how long it takes because I have to clock out and back in so there is no debate. I go, smoke cigarette, come back. No chatting, no hanging around, simply have smoke and return. But if you're so determined I am wrong, which it seems you are, even if it took me 7 minutes it's still only half of the 15 mins I must make up.

shegirl

BottomRung wrote: »

I appreciate the situation from my side and the employers side but in my opinion a smoker that is forced to not smoke will be less productive than a smoker that is allowed a quick ciggie morning and afternoon, that just my opinion. Also they would gain more from me personally if they hadn't deducted money from me (without a breakdown or prior warning) as i'd be happier to stay out on site later or travel further getting back after my contracted hours, which is now going to be a tough decision to make given the circumstances. It is the whole way they have gone about this which has made me unhappy and in the long run they will lose more than they gain. Over the years they have had hundreds of extra hours out of me willingly.

It doesn't need to be a tough decision at all.You either opt in or you opt out.If you feel that you don't want to take all the breaks or you don't always take them then you need to discuss it with someone.Don't keep getting personal about the woman who sets sensible rules thinking they are pathetic,because they are not!

Many smokers go without smoking while working.Nobody has to give you smoking breaks.Either take them or don't.The choice is yours but you need to decide upon which and talk to somebody!

'A smoker that is forced not to smoke' how horrible eh *rolls eyes* what do you think everyone else does???

If you aren't taking breaks and therefore not making up the time then you need to make this known and tell somebody what is happening.

It's quite simple really.

shegirl

BottomRung wrote: »

that must be one looong cigarette. I know how long it takes because I have to clock out and back in so there is no debate. I go, smoke cigarette, come back. No chatting, no hanging around, simply have smoke and return. But if you're so determined I am wrong, which it seems you are, even if it took me 7 minutes it's still only half of the 15 mins I must make up.

If you really smoke that hard (and I wouldn't recommend it lol I certainly can't enjoy one smoked that quickly) take time! You are given 15 minute breaks so why not take the whole 15 minutes? Saves having to work out daft amounts of minutes for people to work out does it not?

saintjammyswine

shegirl wrote: »

It doesn't need to be a tough decision at all.You either opt in or you opt out.If you feel that you don't want to take all the breaks or you don't always take them then you need to discuss it with someone.Don't keep getting personal about the woman who sets sensible rules thinking they are pathetic,because they are not!

Many smokers go without smoking while working.Nobody has to give you smoking breaks.Either take them or don't.The choice is yours but you need to decide upon which and talk to somebody!

'A smoker that is forced not to smoke' how horrible eh *rolls eyes* what do you think everyone else does???

If you aren't taking breaks and therefore not making up the time then you need to make this known and tell somebody what is happening.

It's quite simple really.

I think the main issue is that OP is now not taking the breaks but is still being made to make up the time or lose the money.

BottomRung

Err where did i keep getting personal about this woman? I think you are imagining this. The rules are quite petty as stated, your personal opinion wasn't what I was after really, just clarification on whether the rules are legal or not. Your personal bashing of me is actually pretty out of order, you don't know me or my working ethics so i'd calm down a bit.