To think that if you work 10-4?

@Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot

It's almost as if we are all unique individuals with our own physiological make up and biochemistry, isn't it.

Some of us would be fine skipping lunch and not even notice, others would feel unwell and struggle with symptoms low blood sugar. That's hardly a revelation, surely?

A school day (contact hours) is from 9ish-3ish yes? So in that time they get an hours lunch and another small break! Don’t tell me what hours teachers work, I used to be one! And even with leaving at 4:30/5 an hours lunch was more than enough!

It would be a bit silly for them to be sat teaching whilst their pupils are eating lunch or out playing in the yard....

This doesn't apply in other areas of work, which is why it is different, is that such a hard concept to grasp?

I work 2pm - 10pm, I am not legally entitled to any breaks because I am a self employed sub-contractor. However people I work for are quite happy for us to take breaks as long as we maintain our response times and aren't short-changing service users by rushing them.

I am genuinely surprised at the amount of posters on this thread who are saying they can’t go six hours without eating. I am hardly what you would call a ‘competitive under-eater’ like some mumsnetters but going six hours without food is just….not a big deal?

Would need the loo and an opportunity for a glass of water in that six hours though, so it wouldn’t be ideal if it was something where you couldn’t leave even for a second (e.g., being responsible for someone vulnerable who needed 1.1 support at all times) but a desk job where you manage your own time would be fine!

I do a 6 hour shift (9-3) and have no breaks so eat my lunch at my desk. I get up to make cups of tea and my manager encourages me to go outside for a quick walk midday. I’d prefer to work a full day and have a proper break but for now it’s good because I can do the school run.

I understand why you hate teachers so much.

Yours weren’t very successful at teaching you maths, were they?

Even assuming staff just did their directed hours, 8.30-3.30 would be seven hours, hence the entitlement to an (unpaid) break.

And I'm the one with shit reading comprehension 👍🏻🤣

@Completelyjo
Also, I said I would feel unwell by 4pm if I didn't eat between 10-4. What I meant by that was, u would feel lightheaded and sickly and fatigued, due to low blood sugar.

You responded:

If you can’t possibly ever change your day do do anything other than have lunch at 12-1 or you become seriously unwell I suggest you contact your GP. That’s not normal.

So, you're adding the word "seriously" before unwell, making it hyperbolic, and then on the back of your own hyperbole you advise me to contact my GP because "that's not normal". 😂

Ultimately, it's very normal for many people to have low blood sugar and feel a little unwell if they skip meals. No GP or drama required.

I worked 8-2 officially and agreed with my manager I wouldn’t have a break. I usually ended up staying an extra 30-60 minutes but generally ate something at my desk.

I work 9-3 and I’m not entitled to a break but I take regular screen breaks, make myself a coffee and lunch which I eat at my desk, which is fine. It would be really difficult to work six hours straight though and not have a break at all.

I thought that if you worked 6 hours you were entitled to a 20 minute break, but no more. Not sure where I got that info from though!

I've clarified this.

🤣

Yeah, it's my reading comprehension that's the issue. I quoted what you said. It was not clear. 🤷‍♀️

Yeah I don’t think that’s really on and probably says a lot about the company you work for not really caring about their employees wellbeing sadly.

@dreamer24
it isn’t my fault if you struggle with reading comprehension and understanding basic sentences. Maybe have a sandwich.

No, not entitled to any break working 6 hours. If you work over 6 hours then the entitlement is 20 mins.

@Completelyjo

I used to work 11-5 and was entitled to a 15min break

Not the sole reason obviously but one reason certainly. Laws which say a worker need not be given a break until they've worked for 6 hours straight prevent people who's health is not the best from doing jobs where the employer holds staff to that. If you are a cleaner with a health condition, you may be able to manage to clean for a couple of hours, have a break and then start again. If you have to clean for 6 hours without a break then you wouldn't be able to take that job. I'm not sure why you think the fact that it was worse in the past before the laws needs stating. That's perfectly obvious. I'm not suggesting dispensing with the WTR, I'm saying they are not good enough and in this aspect need to be more generous to workers.

Oh and I didn't say I "can't possibly change my day" 🙄🙄 I said I could not go 10-4 without eating, as it would make me feel unwell.

@Completelyjo

No, you did not "quite clearly" say eat lunch after work (which would be an equally stupid suggestion because 4pm is clearly well past lunch time and closer to tea time). You said:

Eat your breakfast and have a snack before work, followed by your lunch.

That statement is ambiguous and could be interpreted as have a snack before work (ie before 10am), followed straight by your lunch. Which is how i interpreted it. If you'd wanted to be a bit clearer, you could have said "have your lunch after work", couldn't you.

And if you seriously believe I need to see my GP becuase I experience hunger and symptoms of low blood sugar at the normal lunchtime window of 12-1pm ish, then I'd suggest there's possibly something wrong with you rather than me.

It does sound a bit medieval, legal or not. 😨 I'd rather work 9 to 5 and get my Greggs entitlement. But I don't have kids to drop off and pick up at school (not assuming the OP does, mind).

One call centre job I had before changed departments. Got an email each day to confirm your breaks. Some days the breaks were fucking crazy.

Did a 9-5 shift. Get my first break at 9:45am after taking about 6 calls and then my 2nd break was at 4:25. Got back to do about 3-4 calls then go. Lunch was 1pm (give/take 15 mins)

Legally you can work for 6 hours without a break.

I think it’s fine for an office job or something where you are sat down mostly but can go grab a drink/ have toilet breaks when you need to.

But not for the sort of job where you are on your feet for 6 hours straight and can’t even go get a water or have a sit down if you need to. I don’t think that’s healthy or acceptable.