How long can you work......

[Joe24]

Before you have to take a break?
I mean, law wise.
Is there a set time, where after to many hours you have to take a break?
4 and a half hours was my thought. But im not sure.
I work in a shop.
Is there even a max amount of hours you can work before you have to take a break?

 

[montage]

Don't people looking at computers have to take a 5 minute break every hour?

 

[Mr Pig]

I think it's four but I'm not sure.

 

[accountantpete]

For over 18's you are allowed a paid break of 15 mins for shifts between 4/6 hours and 20 mins for shifts in excess of 6 hours. Unpaid dinner breaks etc are at the employers discretion.

 

[Joe24]

For over 18's you are allowed a paid break of 15 mins for shifts between 4/6 hours and 20 mins for shifts in excess of 6 hours. Unpaid dinner breaks etc are at the employers discretion.

Im under 18.

 

[Renard]

HSE website www.hse.gov.uk should have it.

 

[accountantpete]

Im under 18.

They do a special deal for you lot - 30mins for shifts in excess of 4 1/2 hours.

Should add that if you work for more than one employer the 4 1/2 is counted over the course of both jobs.

 

[Joe24]

They do a special deal for you lot - 30mins for shifts in excess of 4 1/2 hours.

Robbing buggers at work!!!
I worked 9-2 with no break, then had an hour.
But on monday im working 9-2 again, just as a single shift
So i should get half an hour break in this?
Or really, shouldnt it be better if i keep quiet and get paid for that extra time.
Hmmmmmmmm

Thanks for the info by the way

 

[accountantpete]

Are you on a contract by the way - that should stipulate the conditions that apply.

 

[Black Sheep]

unfortunately its often a case of keep quiet and keep the job

 

[snorri]

Before you have to take a break?
4 and a half hours was my thought. But im not sure.
I work in a shop.
Is there even a max amount of hours you can work before you have to take a break?

Discuss it with your union rep., that's what you pay your dues for, you have joined the union haven't you?

 

[Joe24]

Are you on a contract by the way - that should stipulate the conditions that apply.

I am. Ive got a copy of it, and its absolute crap. Nothing in it about holidays, cant remember what it says about breaks. Dont think it mentions that.
I looked at it the other day to find out if i get paid for the 3 saturdays im having off as holiday or not and how much holiday i can have, but no mention of it.

unfortunately its often a case of keep quiet and keep the job

Very much doubt i would lose my job if i said about it. When we had the old manager they sorted out breaks so it was fine. Got a new manager and they just seem to give you your dinner/a break when ever.
Assistant manager is also pretty rubbish with rules. Put a notice up saying that if the staff room wasnt going to be kept clean we would lose it.
Some smart person wrote in the courer of the board. "the staff room is a legal requirement, do this and we will see you in court
I am thinking of taking up smoking though, my assistant manager smokes and seems to always being have fag breaks!

Discuss it with your union rep., that's what you pay your dues for, you have joined the union haven't you?

No, not in a union
At school the woman who taught us about jobs and stuff told us to join one, but ive just never done it And probably wouldnt have a clue which to join.

 

[JamesAC]

Don't people looking at computers have to take a 5 minute break every hour?

No

You should, wherever possible, change to a computer unrelated activity for a few minutes every hour; for example, get up and file some stuff away in the drawers. This gives you a chance to stretch your legs, as it were, and give your eyes a rest.

There is no requirement (in this context) that you should have a break per se.

 

[JamesAC]

I am. Ive got a copy of it, and its absolute crap. Nothing in it about holidays, cant remember what it says about breaks. Dont think it mentions that.
I looked at it the other day to find out if i get paid for the 3 saturdays im having off as holiday or not and how much holiday i can have, but no mention of it.



Very much doubt i would lose my job if i said about it. When we had the old manager they sorted out breaks so it was fine. Got a new manager and they just seem to give you your dinner/a break when ever.
Assistant manager is also pretty rubbish with rules. Put a notice up saying that if the staff room wasnt going to be kept clean we would lose it.
Some smart person wrote in the courer of the board. "the staff room is a legal requirement, do this and we will see you in court )
I am thinking of taking up smoking though, my assistant manager smokes and seems to always being have fag breaks!



No, not in a union
At school the woman who taught us about jobs and stuff told us to join one, but ive just never done it And probably wouldnt have a clue which to join.

A staff room (or rest room) is not a legal requirement. The rules say that "wherever possible" a facility should be provided, away from the normal work area. So in a school, there should (wherever possible) be a staff room where there is no access by students, no telephone, no pcs connected to the network etc. But clearly, in a very small business (a small solicitor's office, perhaps, with a reception area and an office or two) it would not be practical or possible to provide a rest facility.

Do join a union. For general sort of work you might look at Unite or GMB. It costs very little ,and can be a great help and support if (when) your employer gets nasty.

 

[Joe24]

A staff room (or rest room) is not a legal requirement. The rules say that "wherever possible" a facility should be provided, away from the normal work area. So in a school, there should (wherever possible) be a staff room where there is no access by students, no telephone, no pcs connected to the network etc. But clearly, in a very small business (a small solicitor's office, perhaps, with a reception area and an office or two) it would not be practical or possible to provide a rest facility.

Do join a union. For general sort of work you might look at Unite or GMB. It costs very little ,and can be a great help and support if (when) your employer gets nasty.

Its a big company, and a big shop. If the staff room was locked we would be sat on tents or fold away chairs in the stock room, which wouldnt be the best due to the stock room often being full of boxes.

Ill have to look at the unions then, for a just in case.
I cant see my employer getting nasty, but some of the things seem abit strange. My dad and mum thought that holidays should be in my contract somewhere, but there is nothing about them in there. But work seems pretty flexible, like if you cant work one day(like i normally work saturdays, and couldnt work a saturday due to being at my GFs prom) they took me off the saturday and i just worked another day.

But then im not really up on much.
Thanks for the advice/information. Big help