Quick Employment Law Question - How Long Can You Work Without a Break?

[jodee]

I typed a long message and it disappeared - basically I've started a temp Christmas job and today worked 9.30-2.30 (5 hours) and was told I'm not entitled to a break in that time. Can go to the loo but not have a drink. I would like to know my rights before I complain!

Jodee. It's 6 hours. At 5 hours you are not entitlted to a break. HTH

Thank you Kalex. Hmmm, not happy. But I can factor in 15 mins at beginning or end of day, I've been told. Not great when I will already be dashing to/from school as it is.

The joy of working and bringing kids up I am afraid. I am thinking of changing my working hours to 6 per day over 4 days rather than 3 fulltime days, so that I can do the school run. Fortunatley my boss is pretty good, and I will be allowed to nip downstairs to get soup to drink at my desk. Or eat my packed lunc, if I am organised enough to make it.

The more I think about this the more unhappy I am about it. I was working in an office and would often go flat out all day at my desk without a break, but at least I could pop to the kitchen to get a glass of water to have at my desk. 5 hours without a drink is not right???
BIL is a manager at Sainsbury's and has said it's 4 hours (not that I'm disputing your 6 hours, Kalex!, I need to find some laws on the net or something).
Oh I hate complaining and moaning, I'm really not like that at all.

jodee

from the acas web site:-

Rest breaks - daily and weekly
What entitlement is there to rest breaks during the working day?
A worker has the right to a break of 20 minutes if required to work continuously for more than six hours. The break should be taken during the six hour period and not at the beginning or the end of it.

The breaks do not have to be paid unless the employment contract provides for this.

the bit of law would be somewhere in the depths of the Working Time Regulations IIRC.

Are you not allowed to bring a bottle of water in with you/have it at your till/workstation? what does everyone else do?

Legally the statutory right is 6hrs, However, I do think the 4 hour "rule" is quite a common contractual right in companies but leads people to think that is the statutory right. My sympathie Jodee it is a long day without a break.

Thanks for reconfirming the 6 hours, Winnie and MummytoSteven. . I will ask for a break tomorrow, and they can deduct 15 mins from my wages, I can't add on any more time at either end of the day. I will say that I don't think they can possibly get the best of their staff if they can't sit down and have a short drink for even 5 minutes (MTS, not allowed any drink or food).

Jodee, I was thinking about you earlier as I work similar hours but I am moving from interview room to office frequently and ,clients allowing, there is usually time for a couple of hot drinks and if I, or others, take food we are freee to eat it as we work at our work stations.

Good luck with your request tomorrow.

Thanks Winnie; and I meant to say in my earlier post that it's nice to see you around again!