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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my employer is mean in not supplying money for a meal

46 replies

tevion · 26/09/2010 21:26

I work in a disabled peoples home and me anohter staff member were asked to take 5 of them out on a day trip to the seaside the owner/manager allocated the clients some money each to get them a meal etc.
The trip was a 120 miles there and back making it 240 all round.
We both worked from 8 in the morning until 10pm that day.
We had to buy all of our own food and drink.
AIBU to think that on this occasion she should have provided for her staff on such a long day out I ended up out of pocket and the job is just minimum wage.

OP posts:
Serendippy · 26/09/2010 21:28

YANBU. I would have though your employer was obliged to provide food for extra hours but even if not, would have been a nice gesture. Don't know what you can do about it though. No help at all really.

Tomorrowslookingfine · 26/09/2010 21:28

YANBU she (IMO) should have provided either food and drink for you, or some £ to buy some.
Would you usually take food with you to work?

gingernutlover · 26/09/2010 21:29

do you normally take a pack up?

It would have been a nice gesture to have supplied your meal if she was expecting you to stay with the residents while they ate.

I work with children though and would always buy/take my own lunch on a day out or if I was expected to saty late in the evening.

thisisyesterday · 26/09/2010 21:29

um, no i don't think they should provide you with money for a meal

i think you should have either taken a packed lunch, or said you couldn't do it

warthog · 26/09/2010 21:30

that's a bit mean.

gingernutlover · 26/09/2010 21:30

I suppose in future you could just say that you can't afford to do the trip since it leaves you out of pocket.

Were you paid for all the hours you worked?

Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:31

Well when we are on duty in the home we are only allowed tea and coffee and have to bring our own food.
I just thought that on this particular occasion she should have provided I feel a bit peeved about it.

OP posts:
twolittlemonkeys · 26/09/2010 21:31

YANBU. I do some care work looking after a blind lady. If it's at her house, I take a packed lunch or something, but if we're going to the theatre or something, she buys lunch for me (and a drink in the interval...) Employer not obliged to, but as Serendippy said it'd be a nice gesture (especially as you're only on minimum wage!)

taintedpaint · 26/09/2010 21:32

Is there anything in your contract about this kind of thing? YANBU btw, it's just if you were to raise this with your manager, I think you might have more luck claiming the money back if you have a legal backup IYGWIM. You had a bloody long day by the sound of it and the least your manager could've done was passed you £10 each (or something like that) for meals and drinks. Might she be hoping you don't ask her, while knowing she should be giving you the money? Is she the type to cut costs where she can?

nymphadora · 26/09/2010 21:32

I have worked places that you were paid/ provided and places that you weren't, my opinion is that if you have the option for a break (get your own lunch) then you don't need it providing.

In your situation you wouldn't have been able to so you should have had it paid for/ provided. But as I say it's my opinion!

What happens on a normal shift that goes over meal times? When I worked in homes we were provided meals & paid without breaks as we couldn't take breaks.

The place I worked that didn't pay for lunch we would normally have had 45 min unpaid break but on trips lost that ( which was what annoyed me!)

thisisyesterday · 26/09/2010 21:32

if you normally provie your own food i don;'t think this should be any different

if you were taking the residents out though surely you were paid for the duration? ie, from getting there to pick them up until the moment you got them back to the home?

how did you end up out of pocket??

nymphadora · 26/09/2010 21:34

Oh & if you are eating in a cafe/ pub etc you can't even take a packed lunch in & wouldn't always get chance to eat at other times.

Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:36

Yes we was paid for the whole duration.
But I ended up out of pocket by having to buy my own meal drinks etc.
She works on a strict budget and is always trying to save money so yes she is the sort to cut costs where she can.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 26/09/2010 21:38

but why didn't you take a packed lunch if you knew you'd be out all day?

if you normally take food to work with you then why would it be any different?

Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:40

I did take a sandwich for lunch that I bought on my way to work.

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 26/09/2010 21:41

so how were you out of pocket?

Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:42

I suppose I just thought that with it being such a long way to go and all of the driving we had to do and been on our feet all day it would not have hurt her to have provided on this occasion.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 26/09/2010 21:42

tbh while i think it would have been nice for her to have given you both the money for a meal too, i don't think i would have expected it

if she hadn't said that she would then i'd have made a big enough packed lunch to last me the day. then no being out of pocket (because presumably you'd have eaten it anyway had you been at work/home?)

said · 26/09/2010 21:43

So, you were out 14 hours? I do not think it's remotely reasonable to be expected to take your own food to cover 2 main meals. Extremely meam employer

Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:43

we sat down for tea in a cafe as the clients had to have theirs and so we had to buy our own.

OP posts:
Original poster
tevion · 26/09/2010 21:45

Thats exactly what I am trying to say said you have hit the nail on the head

OP posts:
gingernutlover · 26/09/2010 21:45

it would have been a nice gesture but assuming you knew you were going, and for how long then if it was that important you would have checked about this before you went?

I think she probably is a bit mean but YABU to expect to have your food paid for.

Serendippy · 26/09/2010 21:46

I can see how you would be out of pocket if normally tea, coffee and water are provided at work and you had to bring or buy your own. Unless it was optional, you need to bring this up if it happens again. If it was optional, next time don't go.

thisisyesterday · 26/09/2010 21:47

yes but that was your choice wasn't it

i am kind of playing devil's advocate her tbh.
but this is the kind of thing that needs to be sorted in advance

you should have asked what provision would be made for your drinks/food and whether it would be covered by expenses.

still, live and learn. next time you know to ask for some petty cash to cover your own items or just say you can't do it!

welshdeb · 26/09/2010 21:48

Can't you reclaim the additional out of pocket expenses. Yes you have to eat but if you spend more than normal you should have a contribution towards the additional costs .

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