More hours at work but no paid lunch break

[Entschuldigung]

Subject might be misleading but struggled to think of a snappy title!

I currently work part time (12:30-17:30). I was asked if I'd be prepared to take on more hours doing a different role while they're trying to find someone permanent. It would only be for about a month. I said yes and that I could do 09:30-12:30 in the other role. I viewed this as going full-time (09:30-17:30).

My manager has asked if I could do 09:30-11:30 instead because I'll need a break and I could go home before coming back in for my usual 12:30. This has really irritated me. Everyone working full-time gets paid for their lunch break and this seems like a way of trying to get out of paying me for that time. Also, everyone working over lunch time gets a free meal at work (I work in a school).

I'm not sure how to respond to the manager. I was agreeing to the extra hours because I could see they were in a fix but now I feel like a mug.

I suppose this is an AIBU and if I'm not then how do I respond to the manager?

[Miranda15110]

No, sorry that doesn't work for me. Job done.

[dementedpixie]

I thought most places didn't pay for lunch breaks.

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I would say that you had thought you would be treated as a full-time worker for the time that you were doing them a favour. You don't want to have to either waste time driving home and back again, nor do you fancy sitting in your car in the car park eating your sandwich for an hour, so you'll pass on the extra work. Thanks.

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

I work in a school and don’t get paid for lunch. Work 40 hours a week but paid for 37.5. With half hour break for lunch unpaid. Which half the time I don’t get to take as no one to cover the office.

[user1471525753]

I work in a school, never get time to take a lunch break and still get stopped 30 minutes pay every day. Some teachers get paid lunch breaks & food provided because they are on duty over lunch supervising the kids.

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Are you sure your colleagues get a paid lunch break. It’s very unusual.

[Ginfordinner]

I don't get a paid lunch break. I don't think it is the norm.

[AutumnCrow]

I've worked for a couple of county councils and NDPBs with really excellent terms & conditions and we weren't paid for lunch breaks.

You clocked off for lunch.

[RoomR0613]

Are you certain the full time colleagues get a paid lunch break or have you just assumed they do?

I've worked in all kinds of industries and never had a paid lunch break.

I have had paid 10- 15 min breaks though in one or two jobs which were long hours and physical work.

[PancakeAndKeith]

I don’t think I’ve worked anywhere that pays for lunch breaks.

[Woodlandwitch]

I work at a company with paid lunch breaks but the core hours are longer than typical

[DarkDarkNight]

Joining with the chorus, I thought unpaid was the norm. My full time day is 8.45-17.00 which is 7.5 paid hours and a 45 minute unpaid lunch break. I would check with your manager or colleagues before assuming there is a paid lunch break.

[DelphiniumBlue]

Most schools don't pay for lunchbreak. And in lots of them you only get half an hour, the rest is spent supervising children. But if in your school people do get paid for their breaks, then it's reasonable for you to expect the same.
The legal position is that you are entitled to a break ( of at least 20 minutes) after 6 hours work, but I don't think this has to be paid.

[xyzandabc]

Are you sure everyone else gets paid for lunch break? I work in a school and no one gets paid for lunch break unless they are actually supervising kids.

[Entschuldigung]

I'll have to check what happens with everyone else, perhaps I've got it wrong.

I think people just go to lunch for 15 mins then back to work, that's what I've done if I've ever been there over lunch.

I won't mind if I'm being treated the same as everyone else.

[xyzandabc]

If you want the extra hours, and would like to use the hour to go home for lunch/errands/whatever, then just say yes.
If you'll just be sitting around for an hour, why not ask if you could either do 9.30-12, so paid for an extra half hour, or 10-12 so they still get you for 2 hours but you only have to hang about unpaid for 30 mins instead of an hour.

[PinkBuffalo]

I've never worked somewhere with paid breaks either. We have to log our times in and if you are very busy & don't get to take a dinner break (like me today) you are docked half an hour from your time as you should have taken that unpaid.
But I've never worked in a school so not sure how that works when you say they get a meal as well.

[TyneTeas]

"Rest breaks at work
Workers have the right to one uninterrupted 20 minute rest break during their working day, if they work more than 6 hours a day. This could be a tea or lunch break.

The break doesn’t have to be paid - it depends on their employment contract."

www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

[DontFeedTheCatCake]

I've never had a paid lunch break in any role. I'm also a bit confused as to whether you think you could work 9.30 to 5.30 without a break? You can't, it would breach the EWTD.

[GloriaMaximus]

I work in retail..supermarket..and I get a paid lunch.

I wouldn't take on just an extra 2 hours a day, doing them a favour, if you can't get the same perks as everyone else working the same hours. Thanks but no thanks.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I've never had a paid lunchbreak. I have worked in schools before (admin not teaching). 40 minute unpaid break.

I currently work in the NHS, we dont get paid breaks

OP if there's a time gap between your 2 shifts then that's an unpaid break. I'm sure you can sit in the staff room and eat your lunch.

[RoomR0613]

Which supermarket Gloria?

[PinkBuffalo]

dontfeed it might breach working time regs, but I'm sure there are many of us doing 8-10 plus hour shifts without a proper break. (Hence our place docking the time automatically after 6 hours) it's just the way it is (I know this doesn't make it right!)

[fedup21]

I’ve never had a paid lunch break! What makes you think your colleagues get it?

[GloriaMaximus]

@RoomR0613 Aldi