is it illegal for my employer to have me work for 11 hours with a1hr unpaid break, and an out of order toilet?

Question

i have a contract, and i think i signed a form saying i would waive my rights to a legal limit of working or something. who knows, ive resigned anyway but still have a month here. i work alone so if i need the toilet i dont care i'll clear the customers out and lock up to go to the toilet. im not a machine. give up work!

Answer 1

Yes in theory. It is accepted that most people should work at least 2/3 hours then have a break. On an 11 hour day you would be entitled to Two 15Min's Tea Breaks and 1 Hour Lunch Break. How many people work with you???? as for broken toilet. Under the Health & Safety Act - Yes.

Answer 2

You have signed out of the 48hr working rule,but if you work over these hrs for a continuous period of 6 weeks,your employers are still breaking the law, also you have to have 11 hrs rest period between shifts,as for not having toilet breaks because you have to lock the shop,i think there is a law on sole working 2 people should be present at all times,may be Health and Safety ,Ring a no win no fee Line for Employee rights and see if you've got a claim, in the mean time get as much evidence as you can IE Rotas etc,Get even with the Git's.

Answer 3

What does your contract of employment say regarding the working hours. The toilet should be usable at all times. Health and Safety issue here and you should have a break of 10 or 15 minutes twice in that working time.
If you have not been given a contract of employment then that is not legal. You must be given one to sign within 3 months. Unfortunately, as long as the content is legal then not signing it makes no difference. All he must do is give you one.
Have a nice Christmas

Answer 4

I think everyone has more or less said it but my daughter works in a corner store and although there is a toilet she cant use it because it would mean shutting the shop, something she isnt allowed to do. they are also not allowed to have a break and have been told to eat whilst working. none of them do that because the customers complain so they dont eat drink or have a wee all the time they are there. Everyone has moaned but the boss more or less just says tough. No one will really kick up a fuss because they need the job. very unfair! good luck with sorting your boss out.

Answer 5

I have reseached this as I work 14 hour days and I am unable to find any clear guidelines. It would appear that the there are limits to the number of hours you can work a week and also there is a minimum number of hours you off need between shifts (around 11 I believe) but nothing about the hours you can work in one shift.

Answer 6

I think normally you have to have a break every 3/4 hours and yu should have a working toilet and be able to use it at all times

Answer 7

Are you able to go straight to another job? I wouldn't bother going in again if I could, and phone the health and safety about the toilet. He will lose business, and get such a reputation, that he will find it difficult to get anyone else to work in such conditions.

What will he be able to do to you then, no-one is going to take him seriously if he takes action against you, as the local rag and national tabloids, and TV news will have a field day. Phone Trevor McDonald, and see if they are doing a programme on bad working conditions!

Answer 8

In the UK it required by law to have a paid break every four hours. It is also required to have at least two working toilets for every 50 people that are employed at a firm.

Answer 9

i work for a council that sticks by the rules and the men often have to work 11 hours when gritting the roads, the toilet is a requirement he has to provide however a reasonable approach has to be taken has it just broken? or been out of order for ages

Answer 10

YES! You're supposed to get a break every 4 hours and you must have a toilet at all times!