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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How long should your breaks at work be if...

41 replies

Mysterian · 30/09/2020 21:48

...you work from 7:30 - 6:45? That's 11 hours and 15 minutes. I currently get a 15 minute break and half an hour for lunch. Doesn't seem much to me. AIBU in wanting more breakage?

OP posts:
Bookriddle · 30/09/2020 21:49

My old job was 12 hour shifts night and days, we had 4x 30 mins, all paid aswell

VillanellesOrangeCoat · 30/09/2020 21:51

If you’re in the UK, the legal entitlement is 20 mins unpaid for every 6 hours worked

MitziK · 30/09/2020 21:51

If it doesn't take your pay to below NMW, sounds like that's all they have to give you.

ForTheLoveOfCatFood · 30/09/2020 21:52

www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

What’s does your contract say?

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/09/2020 21:52

Where i work, it is 2x 30 mins or 4x 15 mins if you smoke. That is for a 12 hour shift. On nights we get an hour break for the same hours.

Mysterian · 30/09/2020 21:55

It's all legal. Just feels like they don't care about our well-being much.

OP posts:
Thehop · 30/09/2020 21:56

I do 7am to 6:30pm in a nursery and we get 1/2 hour unpaid for lunch only.

Cherrysherbet · 30/09/2020 21:58

I get 45mins for a 8.5 hour shift. Unpaid.

MitziK · 30/09/2020 21:59

@Mysterian

It's all legal. Just feels like they don't care about our well-being much.
If you got more of a break, you wouldn't finish until later.
Bargebill19 · 30/09/2020 22:01

It’s legal but I totally get that it doesn’t seem enough. I do 9 hours but split over 10 hours. Sadly the hour in the middle is spent driving from site a to site b. But is also my break time.
Having been in warehouses with 12!hour shifts - I see why a lot of people take very long toilet breaks and always seem to have a snack in their pockets.

Mysterian · 30/09/2020 22:07

@Thehop

I do 7am to 6:30pm in a nursery and we get 1/2 hour unpaid for lunch only.
Yup, nursery for me too. As least we get the huge salary, respect, and the glamour.
OP posts:
Metallicalover · 30/09/2020 22:13

7:30am-8:30am
2 breaks of half an hour. Rarely get the 2nd break x

Metallicalover · 30/09/2020 22:14

*8:30pm

Lemonlady22 · 30/09/2020 22:41

12 hour shift gave us one hour unpaid..used to piss me off that smokers used to disappear for quick ciggies every couple of hours and be gone 10/ 15 mins and still wanted their hour break...i was unreasonable for pointing this out !

freeandfierce · 30/09/2020 22:46

I work 8.30am to 9pm and get a 20 minute break at 4pm. I'm in teaching - despite what people think we do actually work long hours(I'm in FE).

JaceLancs · 30/09/2020 23:01

8 hour day no breaks - 30 minute unpaid lunch
We make a drink whenever we want but drink it whilst working

Nikki360 · 30/09/2020 23:10

I worked in a private nursery 9.30am - 6pm half hour for lunch 15 mins in afternoon. No sick pay . Basically you got the minimum the business could get away with.

Smellbellina · 30/09/2020 23:11

I spoke to a paramedic the other day, they get 30 mins on a 12 hour shift!

sneakysnoopysniper · 30/09/2020 23:18

I used to work in an environment where a blind eye was taken by management to people nipping off every couple of hours for ciggy breaks. I used to take equivalent time going to the loo.

SuzieQQQ · 01/10/2020 01:06

9 hr shift. x2 10 minute breaks (paid) and one 30 minute break for lunch. That’s the minimum legal requirement where I’m from.

sorryforswearing · 01/10/2020 01:23

Ask ACAS then you’ll know for certain you are getting the correct information.

ShopTattsyrup · 01/10/2020 01:44

I do 0730-2000 (or the other way round for nights) we get 30 mins paid and 30 mins unpaid. I prefer to take 2x 15 min tea breaks and 1x 30 min lunch break, a couple of my colleagues are the same.

I find it more beneficial for me and my brain to switch off and regroup every couple of hours for 10 mins.

mxjones · 01/10/2020 01:51

I get half an hour but it's usually more like 15 minutes because of the demands of the job. I'm lucky if I get to go to the toilet at all in that time.

Cheesess · 01/10/2020 05:44

Yanbu
I work less hours than that (8) and get an hour unpaid, and two 20 minute paid breaks.

wineandcheeseplease · 01/10/2020 05:50

7.30 til 5 in a private nursery here and I get two 10 mins paid and an unpaid 30 min lunch