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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think working 6hrs without a break is a little excessive ?

111 replies

fourfingerkitkat · 08/10/2012 12:40

I know that by law you can work 6hrs continuously before your employer is obliged to give you a break, but don't you think this is a bit much ? Have just started a new temporary p/t retail job and working 6hr shifts. I was surprised at this as I'm sure when I worked as a student (15yrs ago right enough...) you got a break after 4hrs ?

OP posts:
Pavlovthecat · 08/10/2012 13:18

english i know, I have already posted about my DHs difficulty having a break like others, I was empathising, saying I recognise how lucky I am that I work in that type of environment.

Smeghead · 08/10/2012 13:18

Ivor I used to work somewhere like that.

We used to regularly exceed our performance targets, both daily and weekly but still the manager treated us like kids. I was once asked why I was going to the toilet "again" in front of the whole office, and yes, it was my period. I was about 27/28 and not a bolshy and world weary as I am now (!) and I was mortified :(

EnglishGirlApproximately · 08/10/2012 13:19

Op - as I've said I've worked in retail for 18 years and never been told I can't go to the toilet. Nipping to the loo is very different from going for a tea break.

HorraceTheOtter · 08/10/2012 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Smeghead · 08/10/2012 13:21

Pavlov H definitely doesnt mind that his staff wont do it too! Although I am sure they wouldnt mind the money :o But his budget wont allow it. Instead of 3 people doing a standard week, he is doing 70 hours and his staff are getting 2 or 3 shifts each, at the most.

THey are using him to save money :(

HorraceTheOtter · 08/10/2012 13:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 08/10/2012 13:24

Sorry pavlov Blush missed your earlier post. I just think people who have never worked in a customer facing or service role can be a bit clueless and think a lot of the rules are there for no reason.

Not you obviously!

ivykaty44 · 08/10/2012 13:25

I used to work in a factory and if we wanted the loo we had to get ahead on the assembly line - then rush to the loo and rush back, if you held the rest of the track up it was murder as they shouted at you - mostly about the bonus we may lose at the end of the week i we didn't produce enough.

No one pissed about when going to the loo Grin it was a quick in and out poos were for before or after work and periods you doubled up and wore the thickest st's you could find.

We did though have a tea break in the morning but no way could 200 people use the 5 or so lavs at once, so that wasn't always an option.

ksrwr · 08/10/2012 13:25

I work in a high pressure office, from the moment i get in to the moment i leave i am working. its fine as it makes the day fly by. its the only way i've ever known.. so wouldn't ever expect to take breaks.

agedknees · 08/10/2012 13:27

I work 8-5pm, with 45 mins taken off me for my lunch break (unpaid). Yet I never get to take a lunch break because of staffing issues (NHS).

I used to work nights 9.15pm-7.30am and in the 18 months I worked nights never got a meal break apart from one Christmas Eve. (I remember it well).

I find it hard to go so long without food and it messes up my diabetic meds/glucose. Think it is a cunning government plan to kill me off early so they don't have to pay me my pension Smile Smile.

halloweeneyqueeney · 08/10/2012 13:29

its definitely UR in retail because you can't get a quick non-break drink etc

In my job there's sometimes 6 hours between breaks but can get as many cups of water as we like, or pop into the kitchen for a glug of our juice etc

can't do that in retail,

6 hours isn't too long for a proper break, but its too long to not have a drink of water at least!

halloweeneyqueeney · 08/10/2012 13:32

when I worked in retail I'ld double up SPs if I had my period, so when the top one was full I'ld pull it off and there'd be another one already underneath IYKWIM

WithoutCaution · 08/10/2012 13:32

Gosh I used to have to do 8hours with no break which meant no food/drink before I set up my own business. My employees get a 20min break for a 5 hour day

PurplePidjin · 08/10/2012 13:34

In care work I've often gone 12 or 14 hours without a "break" just grabbing a cuppa while sat with residents, or popping to the loo in a spare minute. Your pelvic floor just has to cope! None of this "sitting" nonsense, either...

Laluna, I'll make sure i pack enough snacks for the midwives in my hospital bag Wink

Fakebook · 08/10/2012 13:34

I used to have two 15 min breaks and 30 min lunch in a space of 7 hours. I used to be shivering with hunger after 6 hours if I ever missed a brunch time tea.

halloweeneyqueeney · 08/10/2012 13:34

PP in retail you can't "grab a cuppa"

halloweeneyqueeney · 08/10/2012 13:36

and Hmm to "well I've done it so you should just suck it up too"

PurplePidjin · 08/10/2012 13:45

Stupid thing is, i don't think anyone would have a problem seeing a supermarket till operator swig from a bottle of drink occasionally, especially if it was the supermarket's own brand! It hardly takes a second to suck a mouthful from a bottle with a sports cap, does it Hmm

When bar working/waitressing i used to keep a pint glass of soda water down one end with a straw - nairy a management objection although that was back in the days when it was ok to smoke behind the bar

PurplePidjin · 08/10/2012 13:48

Halloweeney, i think posters are trying to demonstrate that in many work places 6 hours is a short amount of time to go without an official break, and that it's common practice for staff to go longer.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 08/10/2012 13:54

PP you would be amazed what people will complain about in a shop. I had a complaint about one of my staff excusing herself from serving when she was stung by a wasp on her eyelid. The customer thought it was rude of her to ask another member of staff to take over. THAT person would complain about a bottle of water. People complain about staffs hairstyles, shoes, accents and all sorts of stuff you think wouldn't bother anyone.

mamalovesmojitos · 08/10/2012 13:55

I've worked in many jobs (skilled and unskilled) and regularly had long shifts with no break- no problem. 6 hours retail without a breather is hard though. The pace is fast but not all-consuming in a way that makes time fly, it can be physical work and you're dealing with the public. I used to get 20mins break for 6 hours work and was very grateful. I could do my teaching or office work for much longer without a break.

lljkk · 08/10/2012 13:56

I've done 6 hours without a break, sandwich shop. Not nice.

halloweeneyqueeney · 08/10/2012 14:00

PP the people doing that aren't grasping that they are in jobs where you can "grap a cuppa" or scoff a sambo between phonecalls

And since when did "common practice" automatically mean it's okay and we should all just put up with it?

In my job I think 6 hours without a formal break is doable because I can have a mouthful of fluids from time to time, that does not transfer to retail where you cannot drink anything at all outside of formal breaks. Yesterday I did a "half" shift, the rest of the staff I was on with were on 14 hours, they didn't take their formal breaks but had cups of tea while doing paper work, and someone had brought in cakes in left them in the kitchen which we could pop into etc.. so its TOTALLY different to retail where you cannot re-hydrate at all

Woozley · 08/10/2012 14:02

Surely most shops could give you a break? Even supermarkets are not flat out busy all day every day.

monkeysbignuts · 08/10/2012 15:53

when I was nursing I would work 07:30 to 21:30 often with just a half hour lunch somewhere in the day!