To object to no kitchen facilities at work?

[PeachyL]

I've just started a new job and there are no kitchen facilities whatsoever. So, we can't make tea/ coffee on our break or heat any food.

Is this legal?

There are many shops nearby where we can buy coffee/ hot food, but I can't afford this every day.

I worked in a small, “proper” shop in a shopping centre and had to use the public toilets and public food court area to eat my lunch. I used to take a jumper to put over my uniform, and just take my breaks there. I would bring my own lunch though, but cold things.

We didn’t have a kettle, and I just did without hot drinks, but other colleagues were friendly with the staff at the coffee shops and would get free hot water from them.

Having since had a job that involves me working at client sites, I’ve learnt not to assume that food warming facilities will be available as lots of workplaces don’t have them.

I would imagine that it being a kiosk would mean that there are certain exemptions in place but I cannot find anything to state this.

However, since the kiosk is situated in a shopping centre I would imagine there would be toilets and places to eat nearby so to a certain extent it does comply with the link I provided above.

Sadly I think it's legal as I've worked in places like that and interviewed for a job at another place that didn't have kitchens. I think it's wrong but in those instances they had a coffee bar downstairs and wanted to force us to use it (they actually admitted that was why there were no kitchen facilities). I used to take my own tea bag and pay 20p for a cup of hot water; and took my own sandwiches too. One place was in a town centre so I could pop out for a coffee or sandwich if I wanted one, but the other place was on a business park so there were no local options and it was the same at the place I interviewed for but didn't take the job.

They don't have to provide kitchen facilities .The only things that really must be provided are toilets ,drinking water(tap water) and somewhere you can sit down on your break. The seat can be at your work-station or desk. They can get away without providing anything else . Ask Santa for USDAW membership for Christmas.

Take a food flask if you want hot food
My dd does this when she's in at Uni over lunch

Of course it's legal.

Take a flask or bottle of hot/cold drink, and sandwiches.

What could they possibly provide? You have toilets, seating and food in the immediate vicinity.

I worked in a large office of a global brand and they had no facilities for you to heat your own food or make your own hot drinks.

As they were a 45 minute walk from the nearest shop - a newsagent - they had an on-site coffee shop and a on-site restaurant. Both were expensive.

Also due to many companies/organisations, regardless of the type of business, trying to save money by minimising the space they rent it isn't a given anymore that there is a staff break room for you to sit and food bought from home.

Thanks again. Appreciate the replies. As I work from 8am - 7pm it would be nice to be able to make a cup of tea. I'll try to make friends with the people working in the coffee shops! 😆

Might be worth asking the security guards what they do ? They might let you in to their staff room ?
Or, as you say, chat up the folk that work in the coffee shops and cafes - or even other shops - in the centre.

OP I worked in a place like this many years ago in my teens. You've had me thinking what we did for lunches and I've just had a flashback of me and a co-worker sitting on the steps in the fire exit eating lunch. Dire. A lot of the time we sat on the public benches.

We did, however, have the facility to make hot drinks and a microwave due to the nature of what we sold (food).

Oh, and we had our own toilet facilities. Luckily because the shopping centre ones were miles away!

Didn't you notice it was a kiosk when you applied for the job?

No you don't 😂

I've worked in places with no kitchen facilities

Take a flask & packed lunch

Or

Eat out

Invest in decent flasks for food and drinks that will keep stuff warm for hours. Stanley ones are great but expensive.
I'm sure after you've worked there a while you'll get to know nice quiet spots for lunch.
Luckily our shop has a break room with kettle, toaster, microwave and a panini press. Homemade toasties for lunch is just lovely!

Haha I am jealous!! Yes, I think I'll just need to get some thermos flasks.