Made to feel bad for having a break

[Zebrasz]

I'm an agency worker working in a residential home with permanent staff today.
Most staff just sit together in the work area around the residents, which is up to them but there's also a quiet staff area that I sit in, with a window that looks out to the main room.

I was sitting in on my 20 minute break and a permanent staff member said to another, "Don't you think it's funny how the agency always take themselves away on their break."

Another replied, "Yeah, it's because they don't want to be disturbed." And the first woman rolled her eyes and nodded.

Well no you're right, I don't want to be disturbed, unless it's an emergency. I'm still in the building, just in a designated staff area. They're making it sound like we're unreasonable for wanting a quiet break. Nobody is stopping them doing the same.

Also talking when she's only 5 metres away from me..

They’re bitches. I would absolutely need a complete break. Maybe ask your supervisor to clarify the rules around break times as it has been told to you that you can’t take it in the break room. A break with the residents is still work to me.

I've been coming here for 6 months, as have other agency workers and none of us have ever been told we have to take our break amongst the residents.
Other places I've never seen this being an issue. It's nothing at all against anyone, I just want to sit in a quiet place on my own as I'm entitled to. It's a basic right for a breaktime.

I'm sure workplaces are legally required to provide an adequate break area? And it's a 12 hour shift so illegal to not provide proper and uninterrupted breaks. But anyway in most homes I've been to I've met one bitchy staff member

OP I think that is bullying. Can you talk to your agency about this?

You are fully entitled to a break away from the working environment, the length of which depends upon the hours worked. This a legal requirement to provide . Anyone who doesn't do this has themselves to blame and not other colleagues.
I would be challenging them and telling them not to talk about you as if you are not there

I work in a similar place (not agency though) and there seems to be a thing about not taking breaks. Often we don't get breaks because there are not enough staff to cover, but even when we can take breaks a lot of staff say they don't need one and then chat about how no one really takes breaks. Well I do, and you are not going to shame me into not taking a break!

Also the whole permanent vs agency staff thing is annoying. Yes some staff (agency and permanent) are rubbish.
Sometimes, infront of the new staff that have complained about having agency staff, I talk to agency staff about "you remember so and so child from years ago" to acknowledge that these staff are often a lot more experienced than the others bitching about them just because they are agency!!

I would be challenging them and telling them not to talk about you as if you are not there

no don't do this. It can make things worse for you, I'd leave it. Agreed they sound like bitches but they are permanent and so mgmt will likely side with them if there's any beef and you will be more expendable. Leave it is my advice.