7th June 2010, 10:30 PM
How much break time do you get?
The amount of break time you get is usually agreed with your employer. It may be written down somewhere (eg in your contract of employment) or might just be part of your employer's standard practice.
Your employer must give you at least the rest breaks required by the Working Time Regulations. They must also ensure that your health and safety is not put at risk. This means that your employer might have to give you more than the amount set out in the regulations, if this reduces a health and safety risk.
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.
A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment. There is no statutory right to 'smoking breaks'.
The requirements are:
Also note the statement:
I always went for 37.5 hour week.. which equals 7.5 hours a day and lunch... so you were getting a generous break, however, the contract will show your breaks... you do have a contract ?? :face-huh:
Ps ensure the location of this site or the company is not possible to work out. You can't (to my mind) change a contract without agreement....
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...G_10028079
If your employer wants to change your contract
If your employer wants to make changes, they should
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...G_10037116
What if you and your employer don't agree?
If you don't agree, your employer is not allowed to just bring in a change. However, they can terminate your contract (by giving notice) and offer you a new one including the revised terms - effectively sacking you and taking you back on. Your employer would be expected to follow a statutory minimum dismissal procedure. They may have to follow a collective redundancy consultation process if they plan to do this to a group of employees.
The amount of break time you get is usually agreed with your employer. It may be written down somewhere (eg in your contract of employment) or might just be part of your employer's standard practice.
Your employer must give you at least the rest breaks required by the Working Time Regulations. They must also ensure that your health and safety is not put at risk. This means that your employer might have to give you more than the amount set out in the regulations, if this reduces a health and safety risk.
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.
A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment. There is no statutory right to 'smoking breaks'.
The requirements are:
- the break must be in one block
- it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be somewhere in the middle
- you are allowed to spend it away from the place on your employer's premises where you work
- your employer can say when the break must be taken, as long as it meets these conditions
Also note the statement:
Quote:The amount of break time you get is usually agreed with your employer. It may be written down somewhere (eg in your contract of employment) or might just be part of your employer's standard practice.
I always went for 37.5 hour week.. which equals 7.5 hours a day and lunch... so you were getting a generous break, however, the contract will show your breaks... you do have a contract ?? :face-huh:
Ps ensure the location of this site or the company is not possible to work out. You can't (to my mind) change a contract without agreement....
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...G_10028079
If your employer wants to change your contract
If your employer wants to make changes, they should
- consult you or your representative (for example, a trade union official)
- explain the reasons why
- listen to alternative ideas
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...G_10037116
What if you and your employer don't agree?
If you don't agree, your employer is not allowed to just bring in a change. However, they can terminate your contract (by giving notice) and offer you a new one including the revised terms - effectively sacking you and taking you back on. Your employer would be expected to follow a statutory minimum dismissal procedure. They may have to follow a collective redundancy consultation process if they plan to do this to a group of employees.