Quote:
Originally Posted by johnep  If you are not being paid then I believe no court would say you had to do what your employer insists. Unpaid time is yours to do with what you will.
johnep. |
That's what I thought, but they made it clear that if you were off the premises for over half an hour (I think - will check tomorrow) they had to let the PCT know. If away for an hour they said they had to shut the shop, unless the shop normally closes for lunch. I don't get it, it seems unfair, and at worst illegal.
Ok I have a personal interest in this, because I am disabled (artificial hip joint) and to be honest, just having 20 mins sit down during the day is killing me. I'm having to take more pain killers then I usually do (paracetamol/codeine), and every time I try to get a sit down, it lasts about 30 seconds!
I know I could not go to the store, which I may soon have to, but I do like the staff there and generally have a good day. On Monday though, I got a script pushed under my nose after every bite of my sarnies, so didn't really have a proper break all day.
I also believe that just letting them do this, and simply moving on, is not a proper way to go about things. I can imagine some poor kid from Poland being told this is how we work over here, and it doesn't seem fair to me.
I can't see that if you take an hour (unpaid) as a lunch, that they can stop you (except by not employing you) as all the other staff are entiltled to a proper break at lunchtime.
I also thought that the law means that during any six hour period you are entitled to 20 mins of break time. They are basically saying "ok, work for six hours, have 20 mins break. Sorry, only four hours left - no more break".
Is it just me, or are working conditions just getting worse every year!