This shouldn't be allowed & I have ruined my life

[deli00]

I work in a call centre ( currently wfh) 12.5 hours

07.45-20.15 one 30 minute break

Im allowed personal breaks but I'm expected to tell the team when I am going for a wee , poo etc and tell them when I return on teams .

I can't cope with this set up much longer :( my back and hips hurt .

Surely it's not allowed to only have one 30 min break . Also I feel I have ruined my life going into this type of work.

Hey OP,

What have you actually been instructed to do?

Has someone said to you 'if you need the loo you need to put in the chat that you're going to the loo'
Or have they said 'If you need the loo you need to let people know that you're not going to be available'
What exactly have they asked you to do, how have they worded it?

Sign up to indeed, Reed, etc.

Lots of call centre companies appear to be run by Hitler and Stalinist regimes.

They pocket millions, ,while we work for peanuts. And they treat people disgracefully

By law you are entitled to one day off a week, and a 30 minute break after 6 hours of working, and this is current UK law.

As shown above, it is not the current law

@Brieminewine

The issue for the OP is she feels stuck to her chair. She can't get up and walk to the other side of the room to stretch her legs for two seconds

I don’t understand why you have to be sat down constantly, can’t you take calls whilst walking around or be logged on whilst laying on the bed? I thought this was the joy of working from home I hear so much about! I didn’t think people were physically sat at a table unable to move for hours on end

When I wfh I'm sitting at my home desk for hours on end. Do you really think people are lying on their bed? Fuck sake maybe I'm doing something wrong

I worked in a call centre for a few months twenty five years ago.
It was awful even then. I remember having to write a code on the computer when I was going to the bathroom. A colleague told me that once when she went to the bathroom, a supervisor followed her in and knocked on the toilet door telling her she had been gone too long. She was sitting on the toilet at the time! When I worked there, it was mostly students doing it short term.
Have you thought about reception type work OP? Or look for a customer service type role?

What happens if you go to the loo without typing in the team chat first?

And why can’t you stand up? Are you typing literally all the time?

It’s not that I don’t believe you, I’m just not understanding.

I would message my manager and explain that you are happy to say you will be back in a few minutes but do not want to announce that you are going to the loo.

Sometimes these controls are in place for everyone because of the few that are not productive enough and take advantage of been out of sight.

I too work in a call centre and there are always those few that will disappear on not ready for half an hour come back 5 mins before lunch and then stay on not ready until lunch because what’s the point for 5 mins.

Ask you manger if your productivity or performance is not at a standard where they trust you are getting through your work and answering customer calls quickly enough.

I feel for you OP. I worked in a Leeds call centre about 20 years ago and it was exactly like this. Incoming calls constantly queued and id you went to the toilet you had to put codes in. If you were longer than 3 mins you'd have a manager question you about it!

I was young, and had messed up and left Uni so it was a stepping stone for me, I just needed the money. After 18 months I went to a recruitment agency and started as a temp secretary for a law firm. I finally had a 9-5 life and it felt great.

Keep looking for something else, you can break free!

Yep, 30 minute unpaid break every 6 hours. I always thought that was the norm (NHS)

It does sound rubbish, some practical suggestions...

Look into getting a height adjustable desk, so you can alternate sitting down with standing up. I use a "cow" at work (computer on wheels), which would allow you to move around a bit if you wanted to stretch your legs. Or you could walk on the spot. Look into stretches that you can do at your desk, and set a timer every so often to remind your to do them.

Suggestion for a "cow" desk below, would your company would pay for one for you if sitting all day is affecting your back? If not then might be a good personal investment if you're not planning on leaving soon.

www.wayfair.co.uk/Symple-Stuff--Height-Adjustable-Standing-Desk-HDHU2146-L32-K~GCGT1035.html?refid=GX433457817353-GCGT1035&device=m&ptid=904755929901&targetid=pla-904755929901&network=g&ireid=90999409&device=m&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3smABhCjARIsAKtrg6K3MEe3ZKrr0tWb9Q67JEM52HnxEyGRWqEkRN_0rN2AyqKSSwFX1nAaAtEtEALw_wcB#eojuah2zqg5-7

I'm a bit shocked that people don't know the laws on breaks and 'lengths of sitting down'

[quote deli00]@CeeCee2021 Leeds [/quote]
First direct are probably recruiting. Still call centre, but better to work for by all accounts from reports I’ve had from friends.

I used to do 12+ hour bar / waiter shifts with no break (by choice I was offered) I think it would be worse being sat down actually.

@purpleme12

Genuine question, are there actually laws around 'lengths of sitting down'?!

[quote IDKNABYBIF22]@purpleme12

Genuine question, are there actually laws around 'lengths of sitting down'?![/quote]
No but that's kind of what I meant
Cos one of the posters above was saying about the risks from being sat down for do long and how they must be abusing her human rights... And they're not (even if it's a shit place to work)

I think I can guess where you work from this info...is it MPS? If so you should get this taken down.

It is terrible and not what I’d expect. I think a wireless headset is the bare minimum- you should also get 15 mins in morning and again in afternoon.

Is there HR or OH to escalate to?

If they wanted me to justify my every minute, I'd be really graphic.

"Sorry, just broken wind and think I might have followed through! I just need to check. Back in a mo".

"Really heavy period today. Just leaked. Very sorry just got to wash myself and changed my underwear and trousers"

"Just sneezed and leaked urine. Just nipping upstairs to get changed. Very sorry!"

Etc etc

If they say anything, then be all wide eyed and innocent about it. "Sorry, I thought you needed me to explain every time I went to the loo?"

It’s 20 minutes’ break, not 30, if you work more than 6 hours. 30 is actually more generous than the legal limit.

I don't work in a call centre. I did for many years. I now work as an auditor for a call centre environment in the financial sector.

I review calls to ensure the customer has been treated fairly and the right outcome has been agreed for them.

I work 9.5 hour shifts (currently working from home). I have one 30 min break each shift. I can have a 'natural' break without having to justify it.

The days are long and I also have aches and pains from sitting down for so long.

I would ask for a workspace occ health referral to make sure you have the correct chair and desk set up.

They also have the authority to ensure extra breaks are built in if you need them.

I would say, throughout my call centre years I never had to justify a toilet break. I think that crosses the line.

Why don't you put 'just going to change my tampon' ?
Seriously these kinds of rules are discriminatory and they need to stop!

@purpleme12

Haha! Good point, I'm not firing on all cylinders after doing a 12 hour shift with one 30 minute break today; at least I don't have to ask for permission to pee though!

Speak to ACAS, & start looking round for a new job! Sounds awful.

The right to breaks from work is limited, but the workplace health laws regarding working on a computer are stronger. If your working conditions are causing you illness or injury your employer could be held responsible.

And did you know that if most of your work is using a computer screen, your employer has to pay for your eye tests, and any glasses prescribed specifically for using screens with?