Lunch breaks - breaks from computers at work query?

[Plinkyplonk]

I've been working here for 8 months and work for most of the 6 hours per day on the computer.

Apparently it has been mentioned that I have been in the canteen with bosses etc and it has been decided after 8 months that I am not allowed ANY break at all.

I'm sure that I saw somewhere that said that if I work 6 hours or over (I often start earlier that this) that I am allowed '20 minutes per day and more is at the employers discretion'.

does anyone have a link where it says what i'm allowed etc especially with being at a computer.

In a rush but here

You should not be sitting at a computer for this period of time without a break! I will have a look for you. Hopefully FloweryBeanBag will see this and let you know. She is really good at all HR stuff.

It's me by the way, in muppet nickname mode

Thought so! Gosh, things are getting confusing all of a sudden....

HSE regs

more

Looks like it could be drawn out, they are saying no breaks. I've no idea what they think they are going to about the breaks taken.

6 hours is a long time without a break.

What does your contract or staff handbook say about breaks plinky?

I'll have to have a look at my contract when I get home. Don't know if they have a staff handbook.

It's just strange that nothing has been said in the 8 months since I have been here until I went into the canteen for a cuppa where the office manager was sat. Really peed off with the whole place as they have chopped and changed loads of other things since started, including my hours.

Does sound very strange, tbh. Do have a look at your documentation. Does everyone else get the required breaks?

Also worth bearing in mind that you are probably not paid for your breaks - most contracts working a full day 9-5 would mean being paid for 7 hours not 8, with the assumption being one hour off for lunch, or whatever the case is, so check how many hours you are being paid for as well in case they are asking you to work when you are not being paid.

Not as important as the H&S and legal rest breaks issues, but some more ammunition if you need to make an issue of it.

Yes everyone else get's their required breaks. But, they work 8.30-4.30. When I first started I worked 7 hours, but, once again they changed that to suit them

They can change things at the moment without too much problem as you have been there less than a year, so there's not a lot you can do about that at present.

But you must obviously have your legal entitlement to breaks, and should also have the equivalent time off to everyone else and not have to work when you are not paid.

Check what your stuff says anyway and come back if you need more help.

Thanks very much, I may well do, I am soooooooo close to leaving.

All I am getting at the minute is that I can have a break, either unpaid or working it back at the end of the day(which they know I cant do as I have to finish at 3 to pick the kids up at 3.15 and school is a 20 min walk away

Just to clarify they don't have to pay you for breaks, as long as you are getting them (and everyone else is not getting paid either).

So presumably if they are now no longer giving you a break yet you're starting and leaving at the same time, you're actually doing more hours and your pay should be increased accordingly?

Well, after my last post it all literally hit the fan and I nearly walked out.

I am mates with one of the lads that works there and he asked me what was wrong, obviously I couldn't tell him when the office was full, so when I was having my break from the commie he caught me and I was telling him.

During this time one of the managers walked past one way, then again the other and went to tell the manager we were talking about what went on

He came out and had a go at me saying 'It has been observed that you have been talking about lunch etc' I admitted it and he went on to give me a rollicking saying that it's a public place etc. WTF????? I went in the canteen on thurs and this is when it kicked off, so, I stood in the kitchen as obviously they don't want a lowly grade 2 in their canteen.

He told me I shouldn't be discussing it with X I basically told him that he had no right to tell me who I can and can't speak to and that X is a friend of mine and if I want to tell him I will do.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I went back to my desk and was livid (crying so I went outside and sat on a wall for a couple of minutes.

I've looked at my contract and I work 18.75 hours excluding breaks according to it. So he was right in that instance. BUT I haven't been taking the H & S breaks from the commie after an hour so will make sure I do this religiously from now on. AND I will clock on EXACTLY 9am and clock off EXACTLY 3pm. I am FED UP of them changing things to suit them at a minutes notice so I'm not doing it anymore.

Plinky what a nightmare! Do make sure you take the necessary breaks from screen time at least, I hope things settle down at bit and get better. It's good you've got a mate there you can let off steam to a bit, that definitely helps when you are having a rough time at work.

I'm in the office on my own at present, can't even go to the loo. Think it may be time to look elsewhere. Bloody NHS, too many chiefs and not enough indians.

You work for the NHS?! I am that they are behaving this way!

The NHS??!! Are they having a laugh?? What a joke...

Yup, beleive it or not, good old NHS.

Contact the HR department straight away (sorry do not know if you have done this or not) This is unbelievable...

Yes absolutely I am horrified to hear the NHS is behaving like this, do contact HR, there will be policies about breaks/display screen work and all sorts in the NHS and your HR department should guide you to them and ensure that you are sorted out. I imagine there is probably someone with overall H&S responsibility as well.

This may sound like a dim question, but, in December, I am on 8.30 till 4.30 BUT with other hours worked within the week I still only do 18.75 hours. If this is the case do I still have no entitlement to a break withing the 8 hour day?