Do civil service job hours include lunch break?

[Bringringbring]

I have applied for a position with 22.5 hours as the contracted hours spread over 3 days. So 7.5 hours a day. Do stayed hours include lunch break or is that lunch hour on top of the 7.5 hours?
so...
9-5.30 with unpaid lunch
Or
9-4.30 with unpaid lunch

Huge thanks. It makes a big difference re logistics!

Thank you all so much

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners

* You won't have to take lunch if you don't want to*. I believe by law I Have to have minimum 20 mins. Fine in private sector not to take but I suspect in public - I will have to even if at desk actually working

bring yes legally you are entitled to it. And you won't be stopped from tackling it. But in my department, it wouldn't be enforced.

*taking not tackling

It may be different in other departments, I can only speak for mine

I work in the CS, if you work over 5 hours you have to record a 20 minute break - due to working time agreement. To be honest we can be disciplined if we don't include it, and travel time is not allowed as a break.
Other departments and areas might not be as scrupulous.

Yes but my point is!!

I can’t say - oh I won’t take the break, I’ll leave early.
If I work for the civil service then irrespective of whether I actually take a break, I won’t be able to leave any earlier than the minimum lunch break I am required by law to have.

That was directed at @AndNoneForGretchenWieners

And thanks @MollyButton - that’s what I thought

In the dept I used to work in that's exactly what would happen - even if you'd worked through your lunch you'd be pulled up for leaving early (if it was happening on a regular basis) because you hadn't taken your required break and you were required to work until your agreed finish time because the dept needed cover in the afternoon.

It really depends where you are working and what your job is. We have flexible working. Almost no one has set times. I start and leave when I want to. If I have a really busy day I might work 8 or 9 hours, then I leave early the next day or take it another day

I work a 35 hour week, so 5 x 7hr day. I am paid for 35 hours and that includes 30 minutes for lunch. My lunch is paid because what it actually is is my two 15 minute paid breaks joined together and taken at lunch time. Under flexi rules we get 5 minutes for every hour worked up to a max of 30 minutes for breaks as a part time person.

My day runs 9am to 4pm because of this.

I would say talk to them if you get the job. You may be able to negotiate with them about using break time as lunch meaning you would work and get paid for 22.5hrs.

ted we work for the same place. As I said, other depts may be different, but that is my experience.

Working hours in job adverts never include lunch or break times.

So you will work 22.5 hours which is three full time days, and then have an hour unpaid lunch each day.

So you’re at work for 8.5 hours a day but are only paid for 7.5 of them.

It’s entirely standard.

Legally your break must be 20 minutes minimum it can't be either at start or end of shift and you can't do more than 6 hours before break, your break would-be normally unpaid, so the minimum time you need to be there is 7 hours 50 minutes
The workplace may require you to log off and back in again, to prove they are enabling breaks and following working time regulations
Different places have different rules it's not always free choice, some places insist on staggered lunches so someone always available others insist everyone has the same hour.

It all depends what your actual job will be. In my dept you have to take a 20 min meal break when you work over 6 hours in a day. Our gross hours which we get paid for are 42 hours per week which include 1 hour for lunch so we have to work 37 hours for a full week - 36 if you are in London. Your job may require cover during certain times so you may not be as flexible that you want to be and you'll need to discuss this with your recruitment contact.

What @Tippexy said
I'm contracted to 40hrs but at work for 42.5 as I have a 30 min unpaid lunch every day

^I can’t say - oh I won’t take the break, I’ll leave early.
If I work for the civil service then irrespective of whether I actually take a break, I won’t be able to leave any earlier than the minimum lunch break I am required by law to have^

Correct, although the minimum lunch break is generally 30 mins not 20, so you will have to be at work at least 8 hours each day, to do your 22.5 hours per week.

But it also depends on any rules re flexible working, core hours etc, different departments, agencies, other public bodies all have their own rules.