Not allowed to leave the building on a break?

Unintentional

Hi guys. Hoping to get some advice on an ongoing issue at work.

For a couple of years now, My manager has claimed that if you go on a 15 minute break. (Which is paid), you're not allowed to leave the building under any circumstances. He also claims that this is company policy, in a couple of weeks my shifts will be changing so a 15 minute break will be the only thing I will get. I would quite like to leave the building to get some fresh air or go to the newsagents and grab a drink or a snack.

I did some research into it and I cannot find anything in the company handbook which claims that this is company policy. I found something on the directgov website which says that a employee is entitled to leave their workstation on breaks. But it's not clear whether that means the area of which they would in or the building itself.

If anyone who knows their stuff about this could give me some advice and possibly some sources which I can show my manager if this is incorrect, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Takeaway_Addict

if its paid then they can dictate the terms of the break they want. The unpaid breaks however they cannot.

Sambucus_Nigra

If it's a paid break, then they can - yes.

If it's not paid, then no.

Sambucus_Nigra

Snap!!!!!!

paddedjohn

If you work for more than six hours then you are entitled to a 20 min breaks somewhere in the middle which you can take away from your place of work, if your shift is shorter and they are giving you this 15 min break paid then they can tell you where to take it

Unintentional

I see, Thank you all for your responses.

2gorgeousgirls

I'm a civil servant and we are not allowed to leave the premises during our 15 minute tea break as it is a paid break.

I assume it must be legal to stop us leaving the premises otherwise the unions would have been up in arms but I can't point you towards any documentation to confirm it.

I work part-time so it is the only break I get. I just have to be organised and make sure I bring a snack and herbal tea with me.

Unintentional

2gorgeousgirls wrote: »

I'm a civil servant and we are not allowed to leave the premises during our 15 minute tea break as it is a paid break.

I assume it must be legal to stop us leaving the premises otherwise the unions would have been up in arms but I can't point you towards any documentation to confirm it.

I work part-time so it is the only break I get. I just have to be organised and make sure I bring a snack and herbal tea with me.

Looks like that's what I'll have to start doing. If it's a 30 minute or an hour break they have no problems. Just the 15 minutes

paddedjohn

OP, how many hours a day do you work?

Unintentional

paddedjohn wrote: »

OP, how many hours a day do you work?

At the moment over 8 hours. I'm a supervisor but it was temporary so I revert back to my original role which I then do 4 hours a day. I know if it's more then 6 hours you get a 30 minutes break. So it's only a 15

AP007

Unintentional wrote: »

At the moment over 8 hours. I'm a supervisor but it was temporary so I revert back to my original role which I then do 4 hours a day. I know if it's more then 6 hours you get a 30 minutes break. So it's only a 15

If you are only doing 4 hours a day then yes they can say you can not leave the building esp as it's a paid break.

They do not even have to give you a break paid or not with only 4 hours a day work.