michael Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 A quick one if I may.... The missus had to go to the docs on Friday, upon returning to work she was told she wasn't allowed a lunch break. The doc asked her to return today for some specific checks, again her place of work told her she couldn't go for lunch. She's already on the verge of leaving as a result of them being general assclowns but surely this lunch break thing is totally out of order when she's attending doctors appointments? Do any of you have any specific links or info that I pass her way, I'm on the verge of heading up there to knock her boss out to be honest, I'm getting fed up of her being in tears because of her job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Our manual states: Normal working hours are stated in your letter of appointment. If found necessary however, you may be required to work outside these hours within reasonable limits. It will be stated in your Statement of Terms and Conditions of Employment Form whether overtime payment will be applicable to you or not. We expect you to be punctual and ready to start work at 9am (unless previously arranged with the management for special circumstances). If you are late arriving to work, please make up any time at the end of the day. Excessive lateness may result in disciplinary action. Visits to the Doctor, Dentist or Optician should generally be arranged outside normal working hours. However, if this is not possible paid leave will be allowed for a reasonable amount of time after being agreed by your Manager. Basically if you don't take the piss, we won't. As to what is the law of the land I'm not sure. I'd say as long as they've met the working hour laws where by you have 10 mins within 4 hours (or whatever it is - I can't remember) then there's not much you can do. Doesn't sound like a nice place though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Aye, where I work (Axa Tech), if we need time out for the docs or so on, then it's booked as sick time, we only make the hours up if we feel polite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Just thought, what line of work is she in? Things may be different in different employment types?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 I guess I forget what it's like out there in the normal world, I'm lucky to be in a very flexible team where we can pretty much come and go as we please as long as the work gets done. She's a receptionist so obviously it's a slight PITA to them when she's not there but when you are ill and the docs will only allow you to book an appointment on the day you ring it's difficult to plan ahead, you take whatever they offer. I'll have a look over her contract / terms tonight but I think the main thing to do is get her out of there.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Mike and I are in a similar situation. He can more or less do what he wants at work, like you say, as long as the work gets done. I have to ask/beg for any time off even for an appointment. I tend to work through my lunch break if I have any time off for docs etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 Indeed, my good lady would do the same without being prompted, it's the way they are telling her that she can't take a break because she's been to the docs that annoys me / her really. It's all about give and take, sadly places like this don't see you start early and finish late, they don't notice that you've taken 30 minute lunch breaks for the past few years rather than the full hour... it's sad really, they never stop to wonder why so many people leave.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 It's all about give and take, sadly places like this don't see you start early and finish late, they don't notice that you've taken 30 minute lunch breaks for the past few years rather than the full hour... it's sad really, they never stop to wonder why so many people leave.... I hope she finds something else soon, I need to get my a*se in gear and find something too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 From our point of view we couldn't have people wandering in and out when they please - a few guys seemed to get this idea a while back and needed pulling up. Problem is the phones ring from 08:30 to 17:30 - if everyone decided one morning to not get to work until 09:15 what kind of slack arsed operation would we look like? The time thing is necessary to offer quality service that our customers expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 It's all about give and take, sadly places like this don't see you start early and finish late, they don't notice that you've taken 30 minute lunch breaks for the past few years rather than the full hour... it's sad really, they never stop to wonder why so many people leave.... I used to have that issue where I work. Now I log the exact time I get in, the time when I go, and the exact time I spend on breaks and so on. Then I submit a copy of that table every week to my team leader, and to HR to put on my file. It only takes a couple of minutes a week, proves that I'm always way over my 35hrs a week, no-one has dared comment when I go early or come in a bit late, and scored me a few points in my appraisal too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 You MUST by law have at least a 30min break every day, no ifs no buts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 You MUST by law have at least a 30min break every day, no ifs no buts. If you're an adult worker (ie over 18), you'll normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you're expected to work for more than six hours at a stretch. http://www.direct.gov.uk/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/WorkingHoursAndTimeOffArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10029451&chk=pR1H4%2B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Indeed, my good lady would do the same without being prompted, it's the way they are telling her that she can't take a break because she's been to the docs that annoys me / her really. It's all about give and take, sadly places like this don't see you start early and finish late, they don't notice that you've taken 30 minute lunch breaks for the past few years rather than the full hour... it's sad really, they never stop to wonder why so many people leave.... my workplace *touch wood* is brilliant for this sort of thing - it falls down to how well you get on with your manager i would imagine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 So in summary: Don't work for Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 You MUST by law have at least a 30min break every day, no ifs no buts. Nearly right, your employer must allow you to have x minutes of break per x hours of work, but you do not have to take that break if you don't want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 So in summary: Don't work for Pete. I was just thinking the same myself. If I hadn't met Pete I'd think he was an ogre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 I was just thinking the same myself. If I hadn't met Pete I'd think he was an ogre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymdee Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Stuff like this makes me appreciate the flexibility I have where I work. If we're busy we put in extra hours, if slack, take longer lunch break etc. Don't get paid overtime, just fixed salary... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Stuff like this makes me appreciate the flexibility I have where I work. If we're busy we put in extra hours, if slack, take longer lunch break etc. Don't get paid overtime, just fixed salary... That's all well and good, except where the company is using your willingness to work to cover for the fact that they haven't hired enough staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymdee Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Yeah, but like one of the guys here always says: "you can't do enough for a good firm" I'm executive grade so I don't get overtime etc, but a decent bonus. Normal grade staff get overtime and a smaller bonus, so it balances out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babe Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Working Times Regulations 1988. See under 'rest breaks'. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19981833.htm#8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Yeah, but like one of the guys here always says: "you can't do enough for a good firm" I'm executive grade so I don't get overtime etc, but a decent bonus. Normal grade staff get overtime and a smaller bonus, so it balances out. Good for you. Last place I worked under those conditions, I had no overtime payments, no time-in-lieu, no bonus (for five years straight...Still wonder why I quit guys?!?!). The only reason I stuck it out was because I enjoyed what I did...but that doesn't pay the bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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