When does a work break officially start?

[RachaelT]

Hey, just hoping to gain a bit of insight into what people expect.

Does the clock on a break at work start when you leave your post (desk, checkout, booth…etc)… or when you arrive at the staff area?

I’ve always been taught it’s for former but seem to have many colleagues who believe the latter (both younger and older) and so they are working less hours the for same number of hours a day. 5 minutes on each side of a break over 5 days a week soon adds up!

But then what about if someone wants to nip to the local shop when they are on their break? Or go out to smoke? Does the time start when they set foot in the shop? Or light their cigarette?
I think for those places where there are timed breaks it’s probably best to say you have eg 15 minutes and that’s it otherwise you’d have people dawdling in the loos or something for 10 minutes for an unofficial break chat before making their way to the staffroom.
Either way I’m very grateful to just be able to take breaks as and when I want - I absolutely don’t take the piss but I do take breaks when I want to. A refreshing change from the timed dash of break time or lunch time in schools!

I mean if it's more than a couple of minutes to the most suitable place they can take a break like a staffroom. People need their breaks.

Ya I see, @InfoSecInTheCity . That sort of rule can only be changed by the organisation leaders, who created the structure.

Because it’s been hardwired into me from starting employment 15+ years ago that breaks start when you leave your post, it’ll be a hard habit to break… but if that’s the norm now I’m obv just old school.

In the nicest possible way, that's a you problem. The culture where you work now isn't like that. It's up to you to adapt to where you work, not for all your colleagues to change the way they work.

I started employment more than 15 years ago and your attitude isn't the norm in my experience. To be fair, I haven't done a role with prescribed break times for about 20 years.
Are you allowed to go to the loo outside of breaktimes?

@NewNameNigel I imagine they would be
We can but it's limited to 12 mins a day on top of usual breaks and lunch

Wow! Timing people on the loo is awful!

It's 12 mins over the day but that's for making drinks too so not timed when you're on the loo!

You have timed toilet breaks?!

I can't imagine caring whether colleagues were taking an extra few minutes break. No one is working flat our 8 hours a day, if they're getting what needs doing done that's fine. I'll guarantee there's no evidence anywhere to suggest tightly monitoring timed breaks increases productivity.

I work at a tourist attraction as we still have this crap. Tho
To be fair the staff would absolutely take the piss if they didn't. Our break start from leaving the floor. However we are given an extra five mins for travelling to the break room

@Thinkyouare not specifically but we have a limit of 12 mins extra a day on top of our break and lunch

At my work place we had to clock in and out at the start of the day and for our lunch break . But during our working day we could go the toilet as many times we needed and for as long as we needed plus make ourselves drinks, and also snack at our desks if we wanted - but obviously not taking the piss so eating a sandwich fine, a plate of salad not fine - unless you could tie it in with reading a report .

I've been working in office for 25 years and I've never come across that level of control. It's always give and take. One day you take a slightly longer break and another day, you might work an extra hour to finish something. I'm a line manager to 10 people, all remote workers, and I can't imagine trying to control how long they spend on breaks.

If the work is done, that's good enough for me

Where I work, it’s immediately when you log off/stop working. It’s automated, so the timing is very precise.

I never had a thought new break, and going to the toilet was never monitored. But I'd count it from the moment you stepped away from your post.

OK but what if you have used up your allocation for the day but then suddenly need a poo. Are you expected to just hold it or shit yourself at your desk?

Most lawyers have to note every 6 minutes! It’s horrendous. 15 would be slightly less awful.

It’s when you leave your post. Everyone knows that but just stay in your own lane. That’s also important at work and you should know that too.

Sounds awful.

@NewNameNigel no you just message manager saying "I need some extra personal time" and go
If you know at the start of the day you will need extra then we just tell them then

I'm glad it's not strictly enforced that would be awful!

When you leave your desk and aren't available for work. Your colleagues are being CF.

Do you never go shopping or to medical appointments or travel by public transport? What a ridiculous suggestion

Can you carry unused minutes over for when you have your period?