'I don't want anyone taking a full hour for lunch today'.......

[northerner]

Says my boss as he pi**es off to take his Father to the Doc's (yeah right) and will be back in an hour or so. We are very short staffed, 8 staff down including 3 account managers so we are all up the wall. I'm working today and it's normally my day off, and he's telling us not to go out for an hour at lunch time.

We are all very cross.

S*& him. That's actually legislated that you have to be given a certain amount of time for lunch and breaks.

dick

I know. But it's like that all the time here. He looks funny at anyone coming back from lunch with shopping bags.

does it say in your contract that you have an hour for lunch??
Or will it be ok if you don't take the full hour and then leave early taking the remainder of your lunch then?

what does he intend to do if you take your legally entitled break?

Where will I find this legislation? Might print it off and leave on his desk

What a plonker! You are entitled to an hour arent' you?!? What can he do?!

Try the Department for Trade and Industry website - can't remember URL but google should find it. They deal with employment legislation. But look at your contract too.

check your contract and also try www.tiger.gov.uk

I think theres a stipulated break for a period of work anyway

What an idiot. I work for a nice company and today we are in a similar situation ? I probably won't take a lunch break because I like the people I work for and want to do them a good turn. However, I don't think they'd even dream of actually asking me to do this.

AFAIK most companies don't actually pay you during your lunch hour. ie if they worked out your salary to an hourly rate they wouldn't include one hour for your lunch. I bet you are contracted to work 7 hours a day if you are working 9-5.

I think you are only entitled to half an hour for lunch BUT most people are contracted for an hour and aren't paid for that time.

He needs to sort himself out. What a strange way to manage people given that he relies, frankly, on a lot of good will.

Just to ask how many hours you have to work before you can have a break?

My boss is rather like David Brent.

just found this on www bizhelp24 -

"An employee aged 18 years or over is entitled to a 20 minute undisturbed break for every 6 hour shift they work. "

What an arse!

How long was he away with his father?

And how long a lunch did you take?

He's still not back.

I ate a sandwich at my desk.

Can you let him know you've only taken a a few minutes for a sandwich?

Subtley?

Oh I will! Subtle as a brick me

i don't want to cause a row, but you are complaining about your boss, but despite eating your lunch at your desk, you're on mumsnet???

(backs away sheepishly........)

The business link and acas websites are very helpful as well.

Sounds like a right arsehead....reminds me of my old boss...w**ker.

um, yeah, thats illegal. might want to remind him of that... f*ckwit.