…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

[AndNowItsSeven]

Haven't you posted about this before op?

[Kingsizecrochetblanket]

Please please look for another job or tell her how it's going to be regarding breaks etc. Please don't dwell on the late day either.
I did my stint in retail management and they will push to get away with anything they can to save a few quid at your expense. I was a doormat for years. I did hundreds of hours in unpaid overtime, I managed staff on more money than I was. I ignored my breaks. It just meant I was stressed, resentful and had no life outside of that bloody shop. It took a massive bereavement for me to grow enough balls to tell them where to go and I am so much happier for it. The world didn't cave in, my working life is much more balanced and most importantly I'm happy. Please don't waste your time trying to make your dick head boss happy. She sounds incompetent. (They often are, they generally have got into that position by proving they can walk over people and take advantage of their good nature, I've seen it so many times)
Try and look at the bigger picture. In years to come, this will all seem irrelevant. It's important now, but it won't be.

[SouperSal]

NMW is £7.20 for over 25s. So you're getting slightly more than NMW but working any more than 2.5 minutes per hour during the day would take you below that. So if the shop is open 9-6pm you're entitled to an unpaid break of 20mins and if tidying up etc at the end of the day takes more than 20 mins they're in breach of the law.

Surely there are other ways you can support this charity than being exploited day in day out?

[fastdaytears]

Being late isn't on and I'd be unhappy about this. More the regularly slightly late than the one off crisis actually. So you need to let that go.

But that's not really relevant because everything about this job sounds pretty dreadful. Find something better!

[YouSay]

The boss needs to come in to cover breaks. She cannot afford to work from home if that means her staff don't get a break. You should arrive on time and leave on time. Your wages are low I would not expect unpaid over time from you.

[Bottomchops]

A charity is a money making business too. You need to get a grip. You work the hours you're paid to. Get there on time and leave on time. Plus take your breaks. Don't bloody work for free!!! Your boss has to come in and cover or pay you to close up and clean. She can't have it all ways. Reaffirm this as a business and working relationship. There's obviously no give and take and you are a doormat. I could not be bothered with this. I've always worked in HR and this kind of thing makes my blood boil.

[bakeoffcake]

Is it a big charity? If so they will be making millions of pounds a year.

Dont fell guilty about taking a break. They are exploiting your good nature!

[insancerre]

You mention colleagues
Can they not cover while you take your break?

[Mouikey]

As others have said, there are two separate issues which you should not bring together...

1. you getting in late, regularly... this suggests your getting in after the shop should be opened by 5-10 minutes. Totally not acceptable, the one off crisis is fair enough if you keep in contact and let your manager know what is going on, but regular lateness is just unprofessional and would be costing the charity money if people can't get in to buy stuff. Yes traffic happens, but you need to accommodate it and leave slightly earlier.
   
   
2. No breaks - have you got it in writing that you cannot take a break? If so they are stuffed, but I imagine this is a verbal thing. Its totally unacceptable and as others have said against the working time directives (I think thats the right one).
   
   However, there are other issues, the expectation to get in early and stay late... I have worked in retail as a manager and I was also expected to do this, but I would also expect one of the assistants to stay to clean whilst I cashed up (safer and took less time). We were generally out in 5-10 minutes (and it was a clothes store). Again getting in early was also an expectation so that you can check the shop, put the float in the till and physically open the door. This, sadly, is retail and the career you have chosen.
   
   In terms of getting union support, that would be a good thing, although if you are not already a member, it is unlikely that they could support you with an existing issue (the have time exclusions when you first join).
   
   Could you speak to the regional manager or is she the regional manager? I know others who work in similar charity retail shops and have terrible experiences - people say that its disgraceful as they are a charity, but at the end of the day they are a business. Not sure the public would feel the same though!
   
   Given you wage, I'd personally look elsewhere.

[anahata]

Hi

Do you think that although she was fine the other day, that someone may have contacted her and complained about routine lateness, so she isn't happy about it? Staff / volunteers complained to her, even in passing comment?

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

I've worked in retail and opened/closed regularly. I did my hours that was it unless I was being paid extra. There's no reason to be there 30 mins in advance or more than 5 mins after close unless you are managing some vast warehouse of a place and need to restock/check changing rooms etc.

Sod the charity and get a new job.

[bakeoffcake]

insancerre the OP said up thread that the other colleagues are vunerable adults who can't be left alone.

[EarthboundMisfit]

Punctuality is basic, though. I was 5m late to an office job I was good at once in three years. You'd have thought the world had ended.

[AnotherPrickInTheWall]

I would look for another job before you have all the stuffing knocked out of you.
Perhaps for the short term you could look for bar work; anything has to be better than this.

[londonrach]

Breaks...(laughs). Nhs worker here im lucky if i get enough time to go to the toilet once during the day! (Not helpful to op at all so wonders off)

[BurningBridges]

Some charities will take whatever you give - especially when they are struggling. I just changed jobs but my last employer expected unlimited unpaid over-time. I had a job share colleague and they were meant to work 3 days a week they were working 5 or 6 days, sometimes starting 6am and finishing 6pm or later. My colleague was becoming ill because of it and they wanted me to do the same but I refused. I noticed several staff there were being given more and more responsibility and hours and told well we're all in it together we must try harder etc. It's the nature of the job if you don't have a strong management to sort it out.

I think you need to call a meeting and get this sorted out, separate it all from the time you were late, that was just the catalyst if you like but its not the real issue. And decide if you want to stay.

[trafalgargal]

An occasional couple of minutes late once in a while and opening a full half an hour late are two entirely different things. Most flexible bosses would be fine with the first and few with the second.

Whilst with only two staff insurance may demand one person cannot be left alone with the shop open it wouldn't be unreasonable to insist the shop either closes for your legal (unpaid ) 20 min break or as it is a charity could a volunteer be found for an hour a day to cover breaks ? If you go to your boss with a workable solution it may be easier to say yes .

[Flowerfriday]

I worked in a shop once. Expected to turn up ten minuets before opening (unpaid) not take a break and stay to tidy up for twenty mins after ( unpaid)

I once popped out for lunch and took a bit longer that an hour and the manageress gave me a right bollocking. I pointed out all of the free hours that I did.

Then I found a job in an office.
All this bits of unpaid work soon add up, I did half an hour a day extra, that's 2.5 hrs a week.

[PerpetualStudent]

My take on this would be, by going above and beyond for the charity, you are actually helping them develop unsustainable working practices - if they are balancing the books and allocating funding etc on the basis they can get X amount of unpaid work out of your role, then if someone else comes along and wants to do it by the book they're screwed.

[turnaroundbrighteyes]

I wonder if she's changed her tune on your lateness because she's suddenly remembered that you agreed to come in 15 mins before opening so were actually 40 minutes late. If you're not happy to come in for the extra 15 you do really need to tell her otherwise she will think you're 20 mins late, not 5 etc.

Agree with the others to get in on time, then have a meeting to discuss:-
Extra unpaid hours - okay on a managers wage, not okay if it takes you below minimum wage. All the charity shop managers adverts I've seen have been £16-20k.
Lunch lots of small retailers take this on shop permises when quiet, but you do need to take it.
Cleaning - if takings are down and your double staffed then this should be done during the working day. Most retailers quickly run the vac / mop round 15 mins before closing. As long as you're very mindful of health and safety this shouldnt be after hours except on days when you have a last minute rush!
Volunteers - if its a charity shop can you recruit more volunteers to make all the above easier?

[Mysterycat23]

Shocked about being forced to work through your legally mandated break. It's not optional to take a 20 min break per 6 hours worked, it is mandatory. Neither employee nor employer is permitted to break that law. Unbelievable

[SouperSal]

Pretty sure employees can't be forced to take the break, but nobody would advise they didn't!

[SouperSal]

And there are lots of industries that it doesn't apply to as well. (This isn't one of them.)

[GabsAlot]

thats my point hes paid for having no breaks youre not

eithe confront your boss or get some legal advice first then say u will be shutting the shop for 20 mins each day