Can an employer insist that staff can only take a half-hour break for a 7.5hr shift

donaldduck1

One of my friends has started a job a few weeks ago.

The employer has told all staff that they can only take a 0.5hr break during their 7.5hrs shift. For info, they can pop out and get a drink from the drinks machine but they must return to their desk immediately, so in effect this is just less than a 1min break.

Can they do this ? Is there any UK or EU regulation that makes this illegal ?

Any advice or help would be much appreciated.

marybelle01

No. The employer can insist that they only take a 20 minute break, which is all the law entitles workers to (if they work six hours or more). Enjoy your extra ten minutes.

flashnazia

The law says 20 mins after a six hour block of work. This in unpaid.

The employee should be allowed to have the break away from workstation/desk.

flutterbyuk25

marybelle01 wrote: »

No. The employer can insist that they only take a 20 minute break, which is all the law entitles workers to (if they work six hours or more). Enjoy your extra ten minutes.

Marybelle is correct - see here

System

flashnazia wrote: »

The law says 20 mins after a six hour block of work. This in unpaid.

The employee should be allowed to have the break away from workstation/desk.

It is 20 minutes if the work period is expected to last 6 hours or more, not AFTER 6 hours.

Also the break can be paid or unpaid, employer's decision. Although paying for the break is very rare

PasturesNew

7.5 hours is a normal/even short working day. Taking only half an hour for lunch (break) is fairly standard - and many people who get an hour wish they could do half an hour and leave early.

Consider a 9-5 job, with half an hour for lunch. That's 7.5 hours - and pretty much the norm/on the light side. Many people work 8am to 6pm with only half an hour for lunch and that's not unusual either.

getmore4less

!!!!!! wrote: »

It is 20 minutes if the work period is expected to last 6 hours or more, not AFTER 6 hours.

Also the break can be paid or unpaid, employer's decision. Although paying for the break is very rare

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1833/regulation/12/made

12.—(1) Where an adult worker’s daily working time is more than six hours, he is entitled to a rest break.

prowla

I once worked at a place who insisted lunch was an hour, and I had an argument that I only wanted half an hour. They were basically ensuring an extra half hour's coverage (ie. 9-5:30 instead of 9-5).

getmore4less

prowla wrote: »

I once worked at a place who insisted lunch was an hour, and I had an argument that I only wanted half an hour. They were basically ensuring an extra half hour's coverage (ie. 9-5:30 instead of 9-5).

Only if they overlaped the breaks with normal working hours of others.

You can leave the workplace during breaks.

princessdon

Goes to show how different folks are. I would love half hour lunch and finish half hour early.

In my oh business 1 hour is forced - but he will never get it, just a way to make them work till 5.30

System

getmore4less wrote: »

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1833/regulation/12/made

12.—(1) Where an adult worker’s daily working time is more than six hours, he is entitled to a rest break.

Your wording was 'The law says 20 mins after a six hour block of work' This is incorrect, the law actually states

12.—(1) Where an adult worker’s daily working time is more than six hours, he is entitled to a rest break.

The guidance to employees supplied by the government states

you will normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you are expected to work more than six hours at a stretch

This is the guidance that is followed by both DTI & HSE and no doubt any ET would use it as well.