Missing breaks.

Just keep a record dates times what actoins you undertook during your missed lunch break. Could be handy when it come time to negotiate your next workplace agreement.


Sometimes we think these things go unnoticed but often they are appreciated.

What do you mean what actions I took during my lunch break?

I suggest you need to find a site about labor law in England. It could mean trouble for you, so it depends on how far you want to push it.

You might find some help here.

I dont know what you do in your job mg but say served 4 customers filed 50 documents produced a powerpoint presentation, sold x dollars worth of product. .

What ever you did that contributed to the productivity of the company you work for, translating it into dollars might be beneficial as well.

I have to admit I do very little as the job isnt exactly demanding.
People may say 'what are you complaining about then?'Well, 9 hours of doing very little with little or no food is incredibly draining/tiring.
Yes I know I should get another job but while Im here I just wondered how I should handle the missed lunch hours.
Ive only been allowed to leave for lunch the last 2 years, Ive been here 4 years.I had a mini melt down so they finally let me have a lunch break!

so if you do very little why cant you eat a sandwich (or something). I understand the bordom thing, been there done that. Is there a possibilty to ask for more work? what could you possibly do?

If I had been told Id not get a break then I could arrange food but if Im not told then Im sat here like a lemon with no food.
I have asked for more work but there isnt enough to go round.

it is actually illegal in the UK for you not to have at least a half hour break - even if you wanted to work straight through.

You need to talk to a manager about this.

It's not only illegal in the UK - breaks belong to the (minimal) requirments given by EU-law - "a rest break where the working day is longer than six hours":
Organisation of working time (basic Directive).

I'm rather sure, tariifs regulate that quite better in the UK - as is done in Germany.

My job doesn't have set breaks. There's many times I've had lunch at 3 pm after starting at 6am and spending a lot of the intervening period walking up and down hundreds of steps while carrying 20 pounds of tools!

I don't know about the UK, but in Canada the employer must provide a ½ hour lunch break after 5 hours of work. Other breaks are discretionary.

Knowing your situation, why don't you at least take a lunch to eat while you are there?

The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates a break of not less than twenty minutes no sooner than three and one half hours, and no later than five and one half hours, after the beginning of a shift. That's the United States, of course, but i suggest that there will be similar labor law in the UK. You just need to find the relevant statute. Walter and I have provided links to resources--you need to do the work from there.

Once again my collegues have gone out half an hour pre my lunch break.Not a word was said, no apology, no recognition.
Ive just emailed a legal place just asking their advice re taking the lost hours another day.

My colleagues are nice people but sometimes their time management amazes me!They may be back at 4pm and let me go early but thats not quite the same asbeing at work 8 hours with no break/food.
I brought some crisps in today, just incase.

Are you the receptionist - answering phones and greeting walk-ins/visitors? They don't let you leave the front desk to take any breaks at all? What happens when you need to go to the bathroom?

You need to re-negotiate your duties and workplace requirements with these people. It is not acceptable for them to expect you to work 8-9 hours without any breaks whatsoever. Write up a plan and present it to your manager, after checking with the Department of Labour to find out where you stand legally as an employee.

Document should be laid out something like ....

Employee entitled to :

One bathroom/coffee/water break during period 8am to 12 noon.
[Alternative employee to man front desk during this period or office door will be locked and front desk unmanned / calls unanswered for the period].

Lunch break - employee make take half/full hour lunch-break during the period 1pm-2pm.
[Alternative employee to man front desk during this period or office door will be locked and front desk unmanned / calls unanswered for the period].

One bathroom/coffee/water break during period 2pm to 5:30pm.
[Alternative employee to man front desk during this period or office door will be locked and front desk unmanned / calls unanswered for the period].

You have to start standing up for yourself. I can't believe you got no lunchbreak for two years. It doesn't matter how hard or easy a job is or how much work you have to do. If you cannot step away and take time to eat, drink and go to the bathroom, that is totally unreasonable.

Those links above are official - it's against the law.