Forced lunchbreak?

shell820810

Trying to sort out my hours for going part time after I have a baby.
We get a 1 hour unpaid lunch break, however because work is usually so busy, I end up working through part of it just to get away at a decent hour in the evening. I would much rather change my contract so that I only get 1/2 lunch, and actually get paid for the time I work.

HR say that it isnt an option - are they correct? If not, is there any documentation to back it up?

Ideally I want to work 9 to 6 in the office one day, and two days at home 8 to 6. This shouldnt be an issue, and will give me 26 hours. If I could work (as in, get paid to work) the extra half hour lunches, it would bump me up to 27.5 hours, which is virtually a four day week.

mountainofdebt

What's the significance of working a 4 day week?

HappyMJ

Do not work through your lunch. You are as in most workplaces volunteering your time during your lunch break to do a bit extra. You don't have to. As soon as lunch starts leave your workstation and do not return for 1 hour.

mildred1978

shell820810 wrote: »

Ideally I want to work 9 to 6 in the office one day, and two days at home 8 to 6. This shouldnt be an issue, and will give me 26 hours. If I could work (as in, get paid to work) the extra half hour lunches, it would bump me up to 27.5 hours, which is virtually a four day week.

Presumably baby will be elsewhere.

bap98189

There is no law or regulation that says you must take a 1 hour lunchbreak. Unfortunately for you there is no law or regulation that says the company must agree to your request to only receive a 1/2 hour lunchbreak. You have requested more flexible working hours - the exact details of that arrangement are whatever is agreed between you and the company.

shell820810

mountainofdebt wrote: »

What's the significance of working a 4 day week?

Just the financial aspect.

shell820810

HappyMJ wrote: »

Do not work through your lunch. You are as in most workplaces volunteering your time during your lunch break to do a bit extra. You don't have to. As soon as lunch starts leave your workstation and do not return for 1 hour.

Yeah, in an ideal world. But as things stand at the minute, unfortunately I have more than 7 hours work to complete in 7 hours (understaffed, overworked...blah blah), so if I work some of the extra over lunchtime then I dont have to work as much extra in the evening.

t0rt0ise

Did you explain to HR that there is too much to do and ask to get paid for the extra hours you work, or at least get time off in lieu?

shell820810

mildred1978 wrote: »

Presumably baby will be elsewhere.

Is this a question? Of course the baby will be elsewhere. The reason for maximising hours in 3 days is so that I can maximise income and minimise days at the childminders.

shell820810

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Did you explain to HR that there is too much to do and ask to get paid for the extra hours you work, or at least get time off in lieu?

That doesnt happen in professional firms, you are just expected to do it until its done.

Jarndyce

shell820810 wrote: »

Trying to sort out my hours for going part time after I have a baby.
We get a 1 hour unpaid lunch break, however because work is usually so busy, I end up working through part of it just to get away at a decent hour in the evening. I would much rather change my contract so that I only get 1/2 lunch, and actually get paid for the time I work.

HR say that it isnt an option - are they correct? If not, is there any documentation to back it up?

Ideally I want to work 9 to 6 in the office one day, and two days at home 8 to 6. This shouldnt be an issue, and will give me 26 hours. If I could work (as in, get paid to work) the extra half hour lunches, it would bump me up to 27.5 hours, which is virtually a four day week.

If they say it isn't an option then it isn't an option - they can agree or not agree whatever terms they wish. However, if you were to submit a formal request for a flexible working arrahgement they would have to give you written reasons why they could not agree it, against which you could appeal etc.