Paid/unpaid breaks contract changes

[saintbernardlady]

I’m still in my probation period I have been in this job for 3 months it took me 6 weeks to actually get my contract after asking multiple times. I work as a deputy manager in health and social care working 12 hour shifts I work with autism and LD. My AIBU my contract I signed states I get a 30 minute paid break which deputies before me had also signed when they attained the role. My managing director has now decided that he doesn’t want to pay me that break and wants me to sign a new contract to say that it’s an unpaid break I have said no I’m happy with the contract I have ( he’s kicked up a fuss as I used my half hour break to pick my dog up from doggy day care I was gone 15 minutes) but I’m unsure of the legalities around this can he take this away from me as this equates to around £100 a month.

In your shoes id be worried that kicking up a fuss would mean you won’t pass probation

However if you sign a new contract be careful as it could mean different things re the timing of your probation etc

Are you allowed to go off site during your breaks?

Depends if your allowed off site

It doesn’t stipulate that I have to stay on site.

You don’t have to sign it or to agree to it. The problem is with such short service they could just terminate your employment.

Highly unfair, I know.

When I worked in what sounds like a very similar place/role, it stayed my breaks were only paid if I stayed onsite. Obviously don’t know if yours is the same, but that could be why.

Seems dodgy. I don't understand how they can say it's only paid if you are on site? In your case it didn't say but maybe it's some weird unwritten rule, like they have to be able to pull you off your break at any point so you need to be really near your workstation? Just say you go to the shop, to a cafe? Surely it's normal to run errands or even meet friends during a break.

The job I accepted hasn’t turned into what I had expected from what I was told when I initially accepted the job role. I am currently looking for a new job at the moment. I have made it clear to my manager I’m not happy and that I am looking at other options. Unfortunately there is no HR department for me to speak to I’m just growing more frustrated everyday with my job and I feel there is no direction.