Advice re Unpaid lunch breaks?

squigglebit

Our company is undergoing a restructure.

My current role means I will need to stay onsite during my lunch break incase I am required to deal with a customer complaint that can no longer be dealt with by the levels below
Me.

As my lunch break (1 hour per contractual entitlement) is unpaid. Can my company legally dictate what I do with this hour? I.e not leaving the premises

[Deleted User]

How long have you been with your company?

TELLIT01

I don't see how a company can dictate how you spend your time if it's unpaid. If they are planning to pay a retainer for staying on site make sure the figure is worth while for you, given the inconvenience it will cause.

Gavin83

Last time a similar question was asked on here it led to a heated debate and an established member getting banned....

To sum up the results of that debate there is nothing to suggest either way that they can/can't dictate where you spend your lunchtime. It's up to you if you wish to be the first person to drag this through the courts to get a definite answer.

getmore4less

Have you been making good use of your break and been unavailable on a regular basis.

Ask them how they will compensate this new requirement.

Something like if I have to stay on site and need to answer queries, Do I get paid or get to take a longer break or......

Is it really not possible for the queries to be told this needs the expert they are on another call and will get back to you ASAP.

That way they can build I flexibility for you to have breaks AND multiple queries.

ohreally

Part of your break has a statutory element (if shift is longer than 6 hours), if this is interrupted the clock resets on the break - ask how they intend to accommodate this and how it integrates with your unpaid break.

Union?

Fireflyaway

It's not a break it your company expects you to be ' on call' for work reasons. If this were me I'd start taking breaks away from work. Go sit in your car / park / go for a walk or whatever! Seriously though, ask your manager what happens if your break is taken up by dealing with customers? Do you get the time back of get paid? It's not fair for work to restrict your free time for their gain. Can't someone be trained up sufficiently to cover? What happens if you are on holiday?

Smodlet

If you are required to be "on call" you are not on a break, are you? There are laws about breaks, even in this day and age. I'd arrange essential appointments during my lunch hour every day for a month and see what happens then. If there is no-one to cover your lunch break, someone needs to look at their management or lack thereof, don't they?

TELLIT01

A few links which may help
https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work
http://www.workplacesafetyadvice.co.uk/can-i-leave-premises-lunch-break.html
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4282

If needs be, suggest that your employer read up on the subject.

Kim_kim

What happens when you are on leave?

ohreally

TELLIT01 wrote: »

http://www.workplacesafetyadvice.co.uk/can-i-leave-premises-lunch-break.htmlt.

I'd take this with a pinch of salt, they are advising incorrectly...

by law you are allowed a 20-minute break for every six hours you work

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