Contracted hours & lunchbreak query

skattykatty

I work in a school-support staff. My contracted hours are 30 p/w EXCLUDING lunch - the lunch break is an hour long. However, I work through most of the lunch hour, leaving myself 15-20 mins for my actual lunch.

I work 9 - 3 every day, but my manager said I should work 30 mins extra every day to make up for a 30 mins lunch break. However, I understand that if you work 6+ hours you are entitled to a 20 mins break in the day, inclusive of the 6+ hours. So, as I only take a 15-20 mins lunch break then 9-3 is fine.

Can anyone clarify? Thanks.

liney

You are entitled to the break , but your employer does not have to pay you for it. Your contract is 30 hours excluding lunch breaks, so you need to work for 30 hours: your manager is right.

You need to verify how long you are expected to lunch for. It seems your manager expects you to take a 30 min break, so if you want to take only 20 mins and work until 3.20pm, then you need to confirm that they agree to this. They are perfectly entititled to tell you to take 30 mins, or even the hour if they choose.

skattykatty

RIGHT! I see. Thanks for that.

getmore4less

The employer an say when you should work.

As you would only work six hours in the day there is no need for the break.


As above any breaks do not need to be paid so you would need to work extra if you do take one or the emplyer schedules one.

skattykatty

Ok. So if I worked 7 hours (thinking of changing my hours to get more work) I would be entitled to a break BUT it still wouldn't be paid, as per my contract?

LMH67

I work a 30 hour week but my employers want me here from 9 - 4 so I have to take an hour's lunchbreak. Would be great in a city centre, but I work virtually in the middle of no where so often end up sitting at my desk taking calls - win, win for the employer me thinks!

Prothet_of_Doom

LMH67 wrote: »

I work a 30 hour week but my employers want me here from 9 - 4 so I have to take an hour's lunchbreak. Would be great in a city centre, but I work virtually in the middle of no where so often end up sitting at my desk taking calls - win, win for the employer me thinks!

I'd be taking a walk, rain, or snow would not stop me.

anamenottaken

skattykatty wrote: »

Ok. So if I worked 7 hours (thinking of changing my hours to get more work) I would be entitled to a break BUT it still wouldn't be paid, as per my contract?

Correct. Working 7 hours means you are entitled to an unpaid break of 20 mins (assuming you are an adult rather than a young person entitled to 30 mins). The employer can tell you to take longer. You need to agree with your employer what your actual working hours are to be.

LMH67

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

I'd be taking a walk, rain, or snow would not stop me.

Trust me, I do get out as much as I can but we are a small office so the odd time I sit at my desk to eat my lunch I can hardly ignore the phone if it rings - no other b*gger in there answers it for me!

AP007

skattykatty wrote: »

I work in a school-support staff. My contracted hours are 30 p/w EXCLUDING lunch - the lunch break is an hour long. However, I work through most of the lunch hour, leaving myself 15-20 mins for my actual lunch.

I work 9 - 3 every day, but my manager said I should work 30 mins extra every day to make up for a 30 mins lunch break. However, I understand that if you work 6+ hours you are entitled to a 20 mins break in the day, inclusive of the 6+ hours. So, as I only take a 15-20 mins lunch break then 9-3 is fine.

Can anyone clarify? Thanks.

If you work 6 hours a day 5 days a week that's 30 hours so if they are paying you for 30 hours you have to work it. Taking any break means you owe them that time back so you either don't take a break or work say till 3.30 to take 30 mins.

Poppy9

This is standard in public sector that you only get paid for the hours you work.

I work LA and work 37 hours a week over 5 days. My employer specifies I have to take a break between 12-2 of at least 30 minutes. I am not paid for this break. I have to clock in and out of work and I have to clock out for lunch. I am only paid for the hours I am clocked in.