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Original poster

Is this too many work breaks?

55 replies

officeissues · 24/09/2025 13:10

NC obviously
been told to have less breaks outside my breaks…
i get 30 mins lunch in 8.5hrs but I split it into 2 x 15 mins
outside of that I’ve used 12 mins to make a coffee and go to the toilet
does that seem unreasonable?

OP posts:
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Original poster
officeissues · 03/06/2026 00:09

Just found this thread again and came back to update I was made redundant
found a new job where I get 40 mins lunch, 2 x 15 min breaks in 8hrs AND it’s all paid Grin

OP posts:
Lollytea655 · 24/09/2025 19:25

Really common in call centres that this would be unreasonable, usually it’s something like 7-9 mins of “personal time” allowed each day where you can make a coffee/drink/toilet on top of a lunch breaj

SecretNameforMN · 24/09/2025 19:23

Crikey things have changed since the days I worked for BT and we got an hour for lunch PLUS two half-hour tea breaks PLUS as many toilet breaks as we needed in an 8 hour day.

Natsku · 24/09/2025 17:32

officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:19

You can’t really ask at interview “do I get to go to the toilet and make a drink when I want?” And it sounds a bit.. mercenary? If I ask how long a lunch break I get!

i am used to timed toilet breaks but this is the least amount of lunch/breaks I have ever had

Show quote history

I have an interview tomorrow and I kinda want to ask this, as I need to go to the toilet quite often.

My current workplace gives us half an hour for lunch plus two 15 minute coffee breaks but its not timed at all and sometimes we go out for lunch which definitely takes longer than half an hour and the tea breaks often run longer than 15 minutes, plus everyone (including the boss) that is in at 7 in the morning spends about 20-30 minutes drinking coffee and chatting before starting work. I'll probably never get another job with such good breaks at this!

Mildmanneredmum · 24/09/2025 16:14

I worked as a packer in a food factory line. We had the 30 mins lunch break, 2 x 15 mins tea break and actually less official smoke breaks. The supervisor told me that even if I didn't smoke I should use it just to get off the line for 10 mins.

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 16:02

ginasevern · 24/09/2025 15:57

Bloody hell. I've never had a job that didn't offer an hour for lunch or where you couldn't (within reason) get up and grab a coffee/water. And never, ever in my life have I known timed toilet breaks - wtf! I started work in 1974 and have worked in all sorts of places too.

I’ve never worked anywhere with an hour for lunch!

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ginasevern · 24/09/2025 15:57

Bloody hell. I've never had a job that didn't offer an hour for lunch or where you couldn't (within reason) get up and grab a coffee/water. And never, ever in my life have I known timed toilet breaks - wtf! I started work in 1974 and have worked in all sorts of places too.

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:56

ChocHotolate · 24/09/2025 15:51

Is it because you take 2 x 15 mins that there isn’t enough “break time” to go to the toilet, so you end up taking extra time to go to the loo?
Whereas your colleagues who take 1 x 30 min break go to the loo I. Their break time not “work time”?

I still go to the toilet on my 15 mins if I need to go
if I took 30 mins I would need more time as I could only go once in my unpaid time

I have a routine of kettle on, toilet, eat while walking outside, vape/smoke, walk in, make brew from now boiled kettle, back to work!

OP posts:
ChocHotolate · 24/09/2025 15:51

Is it because you take 2 x 15 mins that there isn’t enough “break time” to go to the toilet, so you end up taking extra time to go to the loo?
Whereas your colleagues who take 1 x 30 min break go to the loo I. Their break time not “work time”?

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:51

Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:46

Never forget that an interview is you interviewing them as much as the other way round. But you can always address it once you’ve been offered the job but not signed the contract.

However, I’m also here to say that there are other jobs out there that wouldn’t dream of being so tightfisted around breaks so hold yourself in higher esteem and look around for an employer who treats you better than this. Jesus, even when I worked in retail I got an hour’s lunch and 2 other breaks a day! And that was 30 years ago!!

Show quote history

I couldn’t find anything else
the other place was 8-6 with 1hr lunch, no other breaks and no splitting it
everywhere seems to want 8-6 and with a disability I can’t do those hours

OP posts:
Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:50

Oldconker · 24/09/2025 15:49

If I didn’t get up and walk about every 2 hours or so, I would be so stiff!
I thought the 5 minutes an hour off screens was legal and not part of unpaid breaks!
I look at a screen all day long.
I can also go to the toilet as many times as I need. I also drink coffee and water as I am talking on phone constantly.
I would look for another job. I am not a robot

No, no legal around it. I can look away from the screen but even so it’s a bit of a block of time sat down/screen work/talking! The coffee/tea is mostly as you obviously get really dry talking all day and I find it better than water

OP posts:
Oldconker · 24/09/2025 15:49

If I didn’t get up and walk about every 2 hours or so, I would be so stiff!
I thought the 5 minutes an hour off screens was legal and not part of unpaid breaks!
I look at a screen all day long.
I can also go to the toilet as many times as I need. I also drink coffee and water as I am talking on phone constantly.
I would look for another job. I am not a robot

Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:46

officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:44

Just not sure it sounds great to ask in an interview when they haven’t yet offered me the job! It’s not a role you can negotiate pay or breaks in

Show quote history

Never forget that an interview is you interviewing them as much as the other way round. But you can always address it once you’ve been offered the job but not signed the contract.

However, I’m also here to say that there are other jobs out there that wouldn’t dream of being so tightfisted around breaks so hold yourself in higher esteem and look around for an employer who treats you better than this. Jesus, even when I worked in retail I got an hour’s lunch and 2 other breaks a day! And that was 30 years ago!!

Comefromaway · 24/09/2025 15:45

It could also be a breach of the Equality Act 2010 for those with a disability or medical condition requiring the need for regular toilet use.

That would be addressed in reasonable adjustments/accommodations for those individual workers.

There are LOTS of jobs where you cannot just go to the toilet as and when. There are no laws regarding toilet breaks but employers need to keep health & safety in mind.

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:44

Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:42

Why? You’re doing the job for money. It’s 100% mercenary.

(My comment wasn’t just aimed at you but all the people commenting that this is apparently fine because it’s the legal minimum.)

Show quote history

Just not sure it sounds great to ask in an interview when they haven’t yet offered me the job! It’s not a role you can negotiate pay or breaks in

OP posts:
Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:42

officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:19

You can’t really ask at interview “do I get to go to the toilet and make a drink when I want?” And it sounds a bit.. mercenary? If I ask how long a lunch break I get!

i am used to timed toilet breaks but this is the least amount of lunch/breaks I have ever had

Show quote history

Why? You’re doing the job for money. It’s 100% mercenary.

(My comment wasn’t just aimed at you but all the people commenting that this is apparently fine because it’s the legal minimum.)

Friendlygingercat · 24/09/2025 15:24

Denying staff access to toilets when needed is illegal due to the employer's general duty to ensure health, safety, and welfare. It could also be a breach of the Equality Act 2010 for those with a disability or medical condition requiring the need for regular toilet use. I would sternly remind the employer of this.

When I worked in a call center (long ago) we had a 15 minute break in an 4 hour shift for coffee/toilet/what have you. However I noticed that people who smoked nipped out for an extra "loo" break later so I did so as well. I had no intention of subsidising smokers by my efforts.

saveforthat · 24/09/2025 15:20

It's awful op. In my job (not a call centre but do take client calls). We have one hour unpaid lunch and two paid for 15 minute breaks.

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:19

Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:15

That sounds utterly shit to me. I get an hour for lunch plus as many loo and tea breaks as I want/need, for a 7 hour day in an offfice.

Some people just sleepwalk into accepting appalling conditions.

You can’t really ask at interview “do I get to go to the toilet and make a drink when I want?” And it sounds a bit.. mercenary? If I ask how long a lunch break I get!

i am used to timed toilet breaks but this is the least amount of lunch/breaks I have ever had

OP posts:
Ddakji · 24/09/2025 15:15

That sounds utterly shit to me. I get an hour for lunch plus as many loo and tea breaks as I want/need, for a 7 hour day in an offfice.

Some people just sleepwalk into accepting appalling conditions.

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 15:11

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/09/2025 15:07

This sounds bonkers!

I think everyone needs one substantial break during the day, so I wouldn’t be splitting that 30 mins in two - also sounds like you have to have one break of 20 mins +

Timing loo breaks is just mind boggling to me

It’s just a long day, if I don’t split it I’m sat down for 4hrs at a screen if I do 30 mins

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GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/09/2025 15:07

This sounds bonkers!

I think everyone needs one substantial break during the day, so I wouldn’t be splitting that 30 mins in two - also sounds like you have to have one break of 20 mins +

Timing loo breaks is just mind boggling to me

NoMoreWaitingAround · 24/09/2025 14:57

I feel quite lucky reading these, 8 hour shift with an hour for lunch, as many brews as I like and no one monitoring toilet breaks.

UnbeatenMum · 24/09/2025 14:34

I pretty much go to the toilet hourly. Luckily I've never had a job where that's been an issue!

Original poster
officeissues · 24/09/2025 14:31

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 24/09/2025 14:28

Fewer breaks.

It’s a forum, not a level English

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