breaks

[ha0dho]

I work for the co op 9 to 5:30 mon to friday, as im only contracted to 8.5 hours a day Im not allowed a lunch break.

My moan is how do companys get away with making people work without a break it pi$$s me off

[johannes]

Very true, even the Eskimos are entitled having a pause whilst whaling.

[melly69]

Rest breaks - a break during your working day

As an adult worker (over 18), you will normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you are expected to work more than six hours at a stretch. as copied from directgov

when i worked for coop the part-time staff where entitled to a short dinner break of 15-20mins i think she worked 8.30-2pm or something like that

[tinx25388]

However as a Pharmacist pointed out to me (and colleagues) today, certain rules regarding breaks, hours worked and rest between shifts don't apply to registered healthcare professionals. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but it explains a lot!

[Defblade]

@ha0dho: simple answer is, they can't MAKE you work those hours. If it's your contracted job (ie you're employed) they are in breach of EU Regs (minimum 20 minutes break if you are working 6 hours or more. The break may not come at the beginning or end of the day, must be somewhere in the middle) unless you signed your life away when you started. IIRC, you can change your mind on that one at any time, too.

If you're self-employed/locum, the Regs don't apply and you can work right through.

If they claim that they need you to fulfill their contracted hours, it's not your problem if they have accepted a contract which requires more pharmacist cover to fulfill legally.

If you make an error, especially towards the end of the day, expect questions and implications if you didn't have the minimum break....



@tinx25388: there are exceptions/special rules for on-call staff. Other than that, there's no way around the minimums without the worker's permission as I understand it.

[Pharmanaut]

It always interests me talk of breaks.
Most self-employed people do not want to take a break as it is lost income.
Back in the day, we closed an hour at lunch (ie lights off/shutters down). I found it hard to arrange locum cover for my holidays (used to do it myself back in those days)

Now we are in a different situation - most of us are employed by larger multiples under diktats from various HO departments.
However, we are the ones accountable, so if you make an error one of the things that will be stood up against you is the fact that you did not take a break. Therefore, regardless of whether employee or self employed you should take a break.

IMHO we should not sign contracts that weasle us out of statutory breaks.
If you are required to do so don't sign and contact the PDA (Don't work as a pharmacist without being a member either)

Also note that HO staff will always take their lunch break in full.

The Japanese have a word for what we are doing to ourselves here : Karoshi.

Kar

For once the EU has got it right.
...next off - sort out who can own pharmacies.

[johnep]

Motto of HO staff : 'Don't do what we do. do what we say.'
johnep

[crit care]

breaks...whats that? sounds interesting whatever it is!

[melly69]

lol @critcare

[Messier]

did you notice the latest co-op locum times/news. it "dealt" with breaks and the EU working directive. it spoke of everything except the real issue of breaks in the working day. at the end there was a stark reminder of our "duty" to report ourselves to the co-op if we exceed a working week of more than 48 hours. which no doubt means any bookiings would be cancelled. i guess they had forfilled thier legal obligation and told us about the important bits of the EU legislation-nice.