To think that if you work 10-4?

[Lelly97]

That you should get a lunch break?

I am genuinely surprised at the amount of posters on this thread who are saying they can’t go six hours without eating. I am hardly what you would call a ‘competitive under-eater’ like some mumsnetters but going six hours without food is just….not a big deal?

Would need the loo and an opportunity for a glass of water in that six hours though, so it wouldn’t be ideal if it was something where you couldn’t leave even for a second (e.g., being responsible for someone vulnerable who needed 1.1 support at all times) but a desk job where you manage your own time would be fine!

It would be a bit silly for them to be sat teaching whilst their pupils are eating lunch or out playing in the yard....

This doesn't apply in other areas of work, which is why it is different, is that such a hard concept to grasp?

I work 2pm - 10pm, I am not legally entitled to any breaks because I am a self employed sub-contractor. However people I work for are quite happy for us to take breaks as long as we maintain our response times and aren't short-changing service users by rushing them.

A school day (contact hours) is from 9ish-3ish yes? So in that time they get an hours lunch and another small break! Don’t tell me what hours teachers work, I used to be one! And even with leaving at 4:30/5 an hours lunch was more than enough!

@Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot

It's almost as if we are all unique individuals with our own physiological make up and biochemistry, isn't it.

Some of us would be fine skipping lunch and not even notice, others would feel unwell and struggle with symptoms low blood sugar. That's hardly a revelation, surely?

No, directed time in most schools is 8.30-3.30. Duties at break and I don’t know any school with more than 40 mins for lunch, during which most staff run detentions or clubs…

What about extending shift and working 14 hours with no break …. Or regular 11 hour night shifts with no (official break)

@Harrumphhhh making a whole lot of assumptions there and making an ass of yourself to be fair. I don’t hate teachers, I used to teach. I got 15mins in the morning and an hours break. Contact time was 9-3 (6 fucking hours) and I stayed until 5 most days and even then I considered that I had ample breaks! My argument is not that teachers get too much it’s that others don’t get enough and they should!

I've often worked from 5-11 pm.Manageds by eating a late lunch and a light dinner when finished. In fact id struggle to each lunch at midday as usually don't have breakfast till 11ish

So we've gone from working hours to contact time. You want to talk to me about teachers? Let's go! Married to a head teacher in Primary for many years. In school at 7am, home at 6:20pm, every day, then an hour or two every evening and a few hours at weekends. Just like you, I'm sure. But you carry on diminishing the profession, it's really great.

Ok well the schools I worked in must’ve been in another galaxy or something…

Absolutely should get a bit of a lunch break, obviously not an hour, but half hour - or even 20 minutes. Depends what it is. If you're a McDonalds crew member, or on a factory assembly line, then two 10 minute breaks, (say 11.30am, and 2.30pm.) and a 20 minute lunch break in the middle 1pm to 1.20pm.) How and when do you eat your lunch/food if you work solidly for the 6 hours?

If it's an office/admin job that's more chilled, maybe just a 20-25 minute break from 1pm to about 1.20pm/1.25pm.

Yeah, I don’t think it’s me making an ass of myself @Brainded…

@YarkYark did you read that response? I used to be a teacher I’m not diminishing anything! Ffs!

I do 7am until 2.30. I get a 30 minute break and get paid 7 hours.
I was always under the impression 4-6 hours was one 15 minute break. 6-8 hours half hour and 8+ half hour and 2 15 mins.

You sound quite rude.
I am similar to @dreamer24 . I would be very hangry and lightheaded working that shift without a lunch break. I think that is perfectly normal.

Well it’s your anecdotal evidence vs mine @Harrumphhhh thst was my teaching day so I don’t know what else to say to you.

In the 19thc a 15 minute tea break mid morning and mid afternoon was recognised as beneficial to improving productivity in factory workers.
I think all workers should be encouraged to have a break every 4 hours.

Imo the current generation of 20 to 50 year olds seem to be happily giving all of their rights away.

That's what I was trying to convey.

No, I work 9-3 and don't officially get a break. In reality I take ten minutes to scoff a sandwich at my desk and browse the news headlines.

Yanbu. I wouldn't last that long.
I work in an office and eat every couple of hours. Any more and I can't concentrate.

Okay, @Brainded, let’s ignore the ‘anecdotes’ and rely on actual maths.

1265 directed hours per year divided by 195 days available to work = 6.5 hours per day.

This is why teachers are entitled to a twenty minute (unpaid) break.

Legally not entitled. That said I used to work 9-3 and used to take an official 5-10 minutes to shovel something down. I’d often work a little over so it balanced out. I suppose it depends on the role on how feasible a break is. I’m not a breakfast fan so just a coffee normally but I’m properly hungry by 1pm. I’d feel dreadful by 4. A soup in a to go mug and a pack of oat cakes would carry me through though.

We are required on site between 8.30 and 4. That's more than 6 hours. Whether I get a half hour uninterrupted break in that time is debatable.

I'd be interested to know what type of jobs these posters do who say it's fine to work 6 hours with no break. My guess is they do some type of office job or 'work from home'. With endless opportunities to have drinks at their desk/snacks as they work etc. I doubt most people would be happy working 6 hour shifts on their feet, with no opportunity for even a glass of water.

But they get an hours lunch not 20 minutes…but whatever!
My point is they get breaks (and rightly so!) so I think other professions should too! I wasn’t saying anything negative about teachers. As a teacher I got my morning break and my lunch break. That was MY experience. That’s all!