…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

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

If it's a national charity I suggest going above her and discussing it with head office. Do you have a regional manager?

[Lilmisskittykat]

I defiantly start working to rule..
If they give you no slack give them none

And just make sure your not late too

[hotdiggedy]

£16 to £20k isnt a huge wage that you should be expected to do lots of unpaid hours (in my opinion).

[strawberrypenguin]

Not read to the whole thread sorry but two seperated issues here. If you are opening the shop you really shouldn't be that late and I'd expect to be reprimanded for it.
You should also be getting your unpaid hour as a break and should be able to do what you want during this time including leaving the shop.
Accept the telling off for being late and don't do it again and sit down with your boss to talk about the break situation

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Yes I did post before re the phone calls (not being allowed to use their landline for calls to mobiles) but have put my foot down fully over this

[alltoomuchrightnow]

MrsDeVere, totally spot on, and I keep hearing this from others too re that charity.
I do on average about two extra hours unpaid a day but often more . That doesn't include going out of my way (literally) to collect donations on way home etc which I am happy to do (this isn't daily BTW but I often make quite long trips)
There is a lot of emotional manipulation… e.g.'' well you are meant to be an animal lover aren't you'… :(

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I earn about 9k a year, take home pay that is (I say 'about' as hours had gone up a while back so I don't have it in writing as to new salary so this is just what I worked out)

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

Oh my good God are you still in this job with those evil women? Seriously, get a new one. They are utter manipulators and piss takers.

There are plenty of ways to help animals without being exploited at work.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

I was in early today. I will be tomorrow, and so on, no more later for me. I will definitely take the moral high ground re that. But I won't be leaving as late as I normally do…if I can help it anyway (often I can't.. )

[TendonQueen]

That's a good start re the mornings. You really must stick to contract and leave on time. What are the things that stop you? Maybe we can suggest ways to deal with them.

Also, do take a lunch break. Even if you have to shut the shop and put up a sign saying 'closed for staff break, open again at 1.30' or whatever.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

£9k? I mean this nicely but you are being a total mug and exploited. If you leave this woman will simply find another mug who she can monitor from home. I'll bet you anything that the charity she works for thinks that she is doing hours in the shop and probably covering lunches, opening and closing.

Are you being paid mileage for pick ups?

Re the "you're meant to be an animal lover?".
Ans : "Yes - I need to get home and walk my dog/look after my sick dog"

[Pritchyx]

I work in a call centre and I have set breaks - 2x 15 mins (AM & PM) and 1x 30 mins around lunch time... However... Working in a team of 20+ people and if 1 person is late by 2 minutes off theirs, or if you're stuck on a call then it has a knock on effect. However, I refuse to come back in early from mine because it's not paid.

Also, I do weekends, and I leave same time on a Friday as I do a Saturday but no traffic on weekends. I work by 2 main midland motorways, and also by huge retail and entertainment complex's. So can imagine the traffic on Fridays. It's a 15 min drive max so usually early but will have a sneaky fag prior to my shift! But we're told to be there early - nothing in my contract and always leave my PC on anyway, so it's a 30 second job and I walk in at 07:58 to do so

I'd be going ballistic about the breaks though, you're legally entitled to them if you work longer than 6hrs.

As for the late thing, if it's a regular occurrence then I'd leave earlier just incase. If it's a one off then I don't see the problem? I've been late a couple of times due to road closures, horses, tractors, flooded roads etc (also live in FarmVille/rural)... And also got stuck on the M6 the one day when there was a huge motorway closure due to a serious accident, was a junction and half away from work but closure means not moving anywhere sooooo... Things happen! It's to be expected occasionally!

[4littlemonsters]

Check working time regulations - you are 100% entitled to YOUR hour. It's yours. You aren't paid therefore you are entitled to your time. If she wants to pay you extra she can but you must take at least 20 mins in a 6hr shift and I think 30mins in a 7hr shift (might need to double check that).

Don't be late - totally unprofessional.

Also, she should not be discussing with any of your peers about your lateness without being in a formal process and part of an 'investigation'. Unprofessional.

Sounds like they need more HR training.

[CrazyCatLaydee123]

Get a new job that doesn't take the piss.

Life's too short.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"I can't believe people are telling you to suck up not getting the break that you are legally entitled to, and suggesting that you should get in even earlier. I know times are hard and jobs can be difficult to come by, but does that mean employees should just roll over and accept illegal exploitation from their employers? "

I'm afraid I do believe it. MN is generally very bad for workers' rights. Sign of the times I'm afraid.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"The working conditions when I worked for the RSPCA were dreadful"

RSPCA shops use people on workfare. I won't shop there.

[slummyrunner]

I'd really be looking for another job if I were you. My son was working for a small shop who treated him like this. He sucked it up until something else better came along. Now works for a great national retailer with generous conditions and good training. She deserves to lose her staff if she treats them like this.

[Sara107]

If you are working through an unpaid break every day you are already working an hour a day for nothing, plus the time you spend cleaning up after closing. When Sports Direct work practices hit the news recently it was found that some people were actually being paid below the minimum wage when the time taken to go through security checks at the start and end of the day were taken into account. Maybe you should add up the hours you actually work and the hours you are paid for and check that you haven't gone below minimum wage per hour, in which case your employer is breaking the law.
If your contract allows you an hours break, you are entitled to it, and if it is impossible and the employer acknowledges that, then you have a right to be paid for that hour.
If you are having a crisis, then of course they should cut you some slack. Could anybody else open up in the mornings to take the pressure off you?

[SpaceUnicorn]

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

Please look for another job. You deserve better than this. The fact that they are a charity doesn't justify treating staff so appallingly.

[changeznameza]

I've worked in charity shops and there has always been 1 x FT manager and at least 1 x charity shop operative who can open the shop & cover lunch breaks and days off and sickness etc. Even in small shops.

The problem with the RSPCA (and I know the OP doesn't necessarily work for the RSPCA but it has been mentioned a few times) is that the regional branches don't get enough support from head office IMHO and there isn't standardisation between branches - it's all ad hoc and hand-to-mouth.

I wish I had more advice but really you have to try not to let any criticism get to you. Look for something else. In the meantime do what you are being paid to do and try to limit the amount of unpaid overtime, and take it easy. Sorry you've had a tough year

[SouperSal]

Check working time regulations - you are 100% entitled to YOUR hour. It's yours. You aren't paid therefore you are entitled to your time. If she wants to pay you extra she can but you must take at least 20 mins in a 6hr shift and I think 30mins in a 7hr shift (might need to double check that).

Wrong. It's one break of 20 mins if you work at least 6 hours. Even if you work 12 hour shifts the legal entitlement is 20 mins.

[Bottomchops]

You have to work more than 6 hours to get the 20 minutes break. Six hours and you get nowt!

[SouperSal]

Well spotted. :)

[Bottomchops]

Can you tell who used to work six hours???