…to think that my work should cut me a bit of slack over this

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I'm not sure, I may well be U so I'll accept general consensus here.

I am, on average, late for work about once a month but never more than five or ten minutes, apart from the week before last I had a mini crisis (won't go into detail as don't want to out self) and was 25 minutes late.

Rang boss as soon as I got in and she was fine about it.. totally understanding. However roll on a few days and she changed her tune and started grilling others as to why I was late (even though she knew why I was - I was upset as was obviously trying to catch me out? as to my reasons? ) which surprised me. It's a shop and I'm the one opening so I can understand her reaction but as she said..it's extremely quiet first thing (and I opened late to make up for lost time..) and not like I do this all the time (her words)

Re being occasionally 5-10 minutes late is because I come a very rural way and there's often roads closed/diversions , bad accidents (cars speeding and crashing on long lanes), hold ups with horses, tractors, cyclists etc. I always give myself longer than I need to get in (because of aforementioned) but some things can't be predicted for the 20 mile journey, no matter how early I leave

Re cutting me some slack… I don't get any breaks at work whatsoever. I don't get paid for an hour's lunch I'm meant to have each day. Boss fully aware of this (its the same for my job share, whom I don't work with). I am not allowed to leave shop or to leave colleagues alone. I have been told that there's no reason for me to ever leave the shop in opening hours. It can be stressful if I need to nip to bank/shops whatever or to make a phone call (as I get no signal at work) as I can't, but most of the time I just suck it up as I have no choice (I can't just sneak out..am on camera and boss will often watch..she works from home) . I wouldn't mind if I was paid for the full day as I'm used to, in my employment history of retail, usually not having breaks. If I had an unpaid break (or was paid for the full day without a break) then I guess I wouldn't be asking this… I would agree I was being unreasonable and being late (for whatever reason) is unprofessional and annoying

I also stay late nearly every night as there's so much to do after closing, including cleaning which I do all myself (don't get paid for after hours but it has to be done…I'm used to this as a manager though as pretty much the norm everywhere I've worked)

The last few weeks I've also not been getting in early , reason being because of not wanting to be away from home any longer than have to (DP having had a massive bereavement, also having a sick pet) but I still leave late each night. I should stress that this isn't me making a stand (not getting in early) because of the no breaks. They would like me in every day 15 -20 minutes early BEFORE I open up but I get everything done and ready the night before. Given what's going on at home and the no breaks situation I guess I justified it to myself to get in dead on time (or a few minutes early usually) rather than early. Nothing's been said about this though I'm sure it will be soon (and from this week I'll start coming in early again but that's the choice I've made for myself)

But the main issue being she is angry over me being 25 minutes late (and also if it comes up that I've been in mainly on time each day rather than early) when initially she was fine about it. So..should she cut me some slack because a/ I had good reason to be late that day and b/ because I work through my break, unpaid, every day ??

I'm not trying to be difficult and say, well if I'm late just call it my lunch break! I'm just wishing there'd be some balance. Of course I want the shop to open on time each day as it will reflect badly on me. But sometimes things happen and re the breaks they are being illegal

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I'm on minimum wage as a manager too but that's because it's a charity . When the minimum wage went up, my job share and I got no increase. So we are on min wage for all the responsibility and stress. Sometimes I think I should just quit as I'd get more money being, say , a Poundland or Tesco cashier without the stress. But as I said..I get job satisfaction. But for how much longer I don't know. There's also some resentment. I'm only staying right now because I don't want the charity to suffer and I know I make a difference in my own small way

[TheCuriousOwl]

OK so they actually aren't being lawful. You are an employee and as such they can't just say 'you can't have a break'. Either they cover your break or you must be allowed to close the shop to have your lunch break. You are entitled to whatever your contract says but at the minimum the 20 mins in 6 hours is not something they can opt out of and you could take them to a tribunal over it; I don't think YOU would, as you clearly care about the charity, but others might and they'd have a right to do so.

If your manager works from home, maybe she had better not, actually, and start being a proper manager and supporting her staff and you know, upholding the actual LAW...

[Tartyflette]

The minimum wage went up but you didn't get the increase? I don't think that's legal. So in effect you are being paid below minimum wage now.... Is that right?

[Tartyflette]

Have you thought about joining a Union?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

It's a tricky one. My morale is so low I don't see why I should come in 20 minutes early each day unpaid, yet I will always work through my so called break AND stay late (I don't resent staying late unpaid because it makes the next day easier). I just don't want to get in early. I'm not doing it to piss her off or be difficult (things being so hard at home the last few weeks I did not want to leave early.. DP and I are both in pieces, we've had a whole year of bereavements but the latest is the hardest) but obviously if I was happier (felt appreciated) maybe I'd make more effort to come in 20 minutes early unpaid . (though I do make a lot of effort as it is, by staying late, doing other work on my days off etc)

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Tarty I'm on £7.50 an hour which I started on over a year ago. A friend has just started elsewhere as a retail cashier on £7.70 an hour with no experience. I have 23 years of retail management

[notapizzaeater]

If you add up the extra time you work "free" and your lunch hour - does it take you below NMW ??

[StripeyDeckchair]

The company you are working for is breaking the law.
You are legally required to have a break if you work longer than 6 hrs in a day. If they expect you to work through the break they have contractually agreed with you or longer hours (early/late) then they are acting illegally. If they then censure you for not doing this then you would definitely have a case against them.
I strongly advise you to speak to your Union.
If you don't have one then join one & seek advice from them.

[Lynnm63]

If it was me I'd look for another job, one that pays better and then do whatever you feel like to support the charity. they are taking the piss and that's out of order.

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

Why didn't you say something to her?

I get that you love the charity & are prepared to make some sacrifices because of that, but the way you act is allowing her to act the way she is. 'If you act like a doormat, don't be surprised when people wipe their feet on you'

I would be quite blunt and say 'If you are going to make an issue out of this, I will start taking my breaks, if there's no cover I will lock the shop for the duration of my unpaid break. My start time is X, not 15 minutes before X & I will be leaving at X as per my contract'.

Plus, you need to get the sick leave, holiday & bullying issues sorted out. You can't keep working in that environment, it's not good for you.

[Ginkypig]

It's simple either they are flexible with you because they respect you (as long as you don't take the piss) or you work exactly to rule.

That means starting to the min of your start time, ending on the min of your end time and taking your allotted (by law) break wether they have cover or not even if it means shutting the shop.

I don't agree with you being late really in general esp as you open the shop but as your putting in massive extras and they are letting you then I think occasionally they should be understanding about when things go slightly wrong on your end.

It can work one way but not the other that's not fair. I've all take but no give.

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

I'm sorry about all your bereavements 💐 In some ways it's not a great time to be standing up to people, on the other hand, when I did I felt a little more in control of my life again.

[hotdiggedy]

No way would I be staying in that job. Expected to arrive very early before starting, taking no break at all then staying late to clean and all for the privilege of earning less that £8 an hour? Heck no.

How many days a week do you do this? Plus you arent even in walking distance from home. I cant imagine what job satisfaction you get from this!

Please look for another job!

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Hotdiggedy, four days a week (sometimes more if covering. I do extra hours than my job share)

[GabsAlot]

my husband doesnt get a break of sorts has to eat on the job but, hes paid for it-if he wasnt he would literally go
dont take no bullshit just say if youre not getting me help in im shutting the shop for a break

[zabuzabu]

The break thing and the getting in on time thing are separate issues.

It's really not good enough to be arriving late. If you start at 9 then you should aim to be there for 8:50. Leave home earlier.

[KissMyArse]

I'd say look for another job, preferably closer to home. A 40 minute (minimum) round trip takes up a lot of your time and must cost a fair bit in petrol.

Do collections for the charity and donate to it in order to keep supporting it but it seems like it's time to move on. You don't seem to have much job satisfaction anymore anyway

Sorry you're having such a tough time.

[KissMyArse]

• 40 MILE round trip, not minute

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Agreed, Zabuzaba. I need to separate that. Just needed someone to give that to me straight!
Also agreed, Kiss. Am visiting somewhere this week (similar line of work, not same charity, much nearer and better conditions)

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Gabs.. in old jobs I always had to eat on the job.. and was paid for it.. it's what I'm used to . Now I have to eat on the job (I tend to have shakes.. i.e. meal replacements to save time as it's easier., I'm trying to lose weight anyway but that's not the point I guess.. ) and don't get paid for that hour . If I did it wouldn't be an issue

[mirime]

I've worked in retail and can confirm its normal to be expected to be in earlier than your start time, unpaid - and cashing up time to be unpaid. Not just for managers, either. I know of one chain back when I was in retail who expected staff to stay behind for an hour unpaid to tidy up. As they were mostly on 4hr contracts and were reliant on overtime nobody wanted to rock the boat.

So, no ynbu.

[TendonQueen]

Now you've posted more detail, they are definitely not treating you well. I too would say look for another job, and in the meantime I would do what ExtraHot says and work to contract.

[coolaschmoola]

You are being exploited...by a CHARITY.

[JackieAndHyde4eva]

It's the unfairness of her changing her tune re the 25 minute late incident (when initially supportive)

You need to let this go. She is entitled to be pissed off at that. In Reality its not a big issue. It happened, its over, move on.

But as for the rest!! Bloody value yourself! Stand up for your own rights. If you dont value your own time then sure as hell they wont. You need to address the breaks issue and stop doing unpaid over time! Lovely charity bla bla, you are not a volunteer! You are an employee. Get there on time, take your breaks and clock out on time. No-one will thank you for going above and beyond. As youve already seen.

[LizKeen]

Did you post a while ago about your boss expecting you to make business calls on your personal phone and pay for them yourself?

If so, it sounded dodgy as fuck then and it sounds worse now.

Retail jobs often do expect you in 5-10 mins early. But that is so you can get your coat off, nip to the loo etc and then start on time. Rather than starting ten mins late.

Its also expected that you stay to cash up or tidy for a while after, but mostly that should be paid if it goes over 15 mins.

You should be getting your breaks, paid or unpaid and its illegal not to. I once walked out of a job after being told there would be no break because it sounded like the thin end of the wedge. If they were cavalier about that part of employment law what else would they ignore.

In short, you need to stop being treated like a mug. If you have 23 years of experience you should know what is unacceptable. Stand up for yourself, or start looking for a new job.