Employment law/buffs - breaks, etc.
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Employment law/buffs - breaks, etc.
Hi,
Imagine, hypthetically if i was working for M Mouse inc.
It turns out the the 2 x 10 minute breaks one in the morning and one in the afternoon are only for smokers, not non smokers - is this right or proper practice???
The *** breaks are not in the contract of employment, the only break we get is 60m unpaid lunch, no other. We work sat at LCD screens/PC's 100% of the time.
Now M Mouse inc want to ditch the 10m *** breaks unless you want to reduce your unpaid lunch mins to cover *** breaks off 40 min lunch and 2 x 10 min *** breaks if you see what i mean.
M Mouse inc says that we do not have to have breaks outside lunch, it is enough to get up and get a coffee or water once or twice a day.
Is this right???
Imagine, hypthetically if i was working for M Mouse inc.
It turns out the the 2 x 10 minute breaks one in the morning and one in the afternoon are only for smokers, not non smokers - is this right or proper practice???
The *** breaks are not in the contract of employment, the only break we get is 60m unpaid lunch, no other. We work sat at LCD screens/PC's 100% of the time.
Now M Mouse inc want to ditch the 10m *** breaks unless you want to reduce your unpaid lunch mins to cover *** breaks off 40 min lunch and 2 x 10 min *** breaks if you see what i mean.
M Mouse inc says that we do not have to have breaks outside lunch, it is enough to get up and get a coffee or water once or twice a day.
Is this right???
Last edited by The Zohan; 10 September 2009 at 10:08 AM.
#2
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (21)
At our place smokers go for one on average once every hour. If you are a non smoker you are not allowed any breaks.
They are out there for at least 5 mins a time.
It really frustrates the non-smokers as they are not allowed breaks as going to the toliet and make drinks is considered a break from the pc.
Fair I think not!
So I actually agree that if you are a smoker you take it out of your lunch break.
I used to be a smoker and even if I was still now I would feel it fair to take it out of my break time to be fair to others.
They are out there for at least 5 mins a time.
It really frustrates the non-smokers as they are not allowed breaks as going to the toliet and make drinks is considered a break from the pc.
Fair I think not!
So I actually agree that if you are a smoker you take it out of your lunch break.
I used to be a smoker and even if I was still now I would feel it fair to take it out of my break time to be fair to others.
#4
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
In my old work place {printing company} we worked 12hr shifts.
Only the smokers got 2 x10min breaks, non-smokers got none.
No lunch breaks at all, no incoming & out going phone calls were allowed.
No reading materials {newspapers, magazines, etc} were allowed in the factory,
all mobile phones had to switched off and no eating food on the shop floor.
and to top it off, we were under cctv all the time.
Think yourself lucky compared to these conditions.
Only the smokers got 2 x10min breaks, non-smokers got none.
No lunch breaks at all, no incoming & out going phone calls were allowed.
No reading materials {newspapers, magazines, etc} were allowed in the factory,
all mobile phones had to switched off and no eating food on the shop floor.
and to top it off, we were under cctv all the time.
Think yourself lucky compared to these conditions.
#5
A company so strict and **** would have to pay me an thoroughly indecent amount of money to work there.
At my place there are no official break times and often non-smokers join the smokers outside.
The relaxed atmosphere pays dividends in hard work and commitment to the company.
At my place there are no official break times and often non-smokers join the smokers outside.
The relaxed atmosphere pays dividends in hard work and commitment to the company.
#6
Administrator
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Blackpool, Uk. Destination: Rev Limiter.
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow... thats crackers!
I give my staff 2x 15 mins breaks (One mid morning and one mid afternoon) and 1x 30 min lunch break for each 8hr working day. All fully paid for.
I'm sure the working time directive only specifies a 20min break per 6hrs of work and that break can be the lunch break. Extra breaks are by contractual agreement only I think. I am absolutely certain there is no such thing as a statutory cigarette break though so maybe this falls under some discriminatory law if you dig deep enough because surely no employer can legally say:
I'm certainly no employment law expert though and am speaking from experience as an employer who cares about his staffs wellbeing so its probably worth a google.
I give my staff 2x 15 mins breaks (One mid morning and one mid afternoon) and 1x 30 min lunch break for each 8hr working day. All fully paid for.
I'm sure the working time directive only specifies a 20min break per 6hrs of work and that break can be the lunch break. Extra breaks are by contractual agreement only I think. I am absolutely certain there is no such thing as a statutory cigarette break though so maybe this falls under some discriminatory law if you dig deep enough because surely no employer can legally say:
Yes you can have a break, but only if you start smoking!
#7
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Stu is right I believe.
I think the only written thing is that you are entitled to 20 mins for 6 hours worked.
My place isn't too bad, I work 8 hours, I get 1 hour (unpaid) lunch and 2x15 minute breaks (morning and afternoon). I know one of the people I work with does a shorter shift and because he smokes, he has been allowed to split his 30 minute break in two for smoke breaks. I's all fair though, as he is still only getting the same amount of time allowed as anyone else.
I think the only written thing is that you are entitled to 20 mins for 6 hours worked.
My place isn't too bad, I work 8 hours, I get 1 hour (unpaid) lunch and 2x15 minute breaks (morning and afternoon). I know one of the people I work with does a shorter shift and because he smokes, he has been allowed to split his 30 minute break in two for smoke breaks. I's all fair though, as he is still only getting the same amount of time allowed as anyone else.
Trending Topics
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Please excuse my Spelling - its not the best !!
Posts: 2,538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Richard
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
28
28 December 2015 11:07 PM
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
12
18 November 2015 07:03 AM