what is the law on tea breaks and lunch/ dinner breaks that an employer must give you?

Question

I have a friend that works at a well known company and she does not get any type of breaks, including toilet breaks, for her whole shift. The duty member of staff there has said that because she does not smoke she does not need a break. Also this friend is told she has to go to work even if really ill as they cant be bothered to find some body to cover her shift. I am really worried about my friend as she can be doing between 6 and 16 hours a day and still no breaks are given to her. For a toilet break she has to walk off the shop floor and leave the shop open to theift. The c.a.b have told me it is againts the law but the company decides on what breaks are allowed and for how many hours worked.

Answer 1

To answer for the UK, you (an adult) are entitled to a 20 minute unpaid break after six hours' continuous work.

Your minimum rights at a glance
Four weeks paid holiday a year
20 minute break if the working day is more than six hours
Rest period of 11 hours between working days
Rest period of 24 hours once every seven days
Two full days off per fortnight (normally one per week)
Night workers to work a maximum average of eight hours in 24
Free health assessments for night workers
Maximum 48 hours for the average working week

Exceptions
Jobs that require round-the-clock staffing, eg hospitals, prisons, care homes or 24-hour production
Jobs with busy peak periods such as retail, tourism and agriculture
Work that involves security or surveillance to protect property or individuals
When an emergency occurs
Compensatory rest
In the exceptions, if workers do not receive any of the rest or breaks due, they must receive 'compensatory rest' within a reasonable time from when the rest was lost.
You should not wait more than:

A couple of weeks to take all your daily rest
A couple of months to take all your weekly rest

Go to http://www.usdaw.org.uk/getactive/resource_library/1135071838_22151.html

Answer 2

after 4 hours you are entitled to a break of 15 minutes, if the shift runs through a lunchtime period ie between 12 and 2pm you are entitled to a 30 minute break.....there are other rules depending on the type of work performed..the employment act covers all of this...as for sickness, you can have three days self certified, then you must get a doctors certificate, however companies do have their own take on this..

Answer 3

In the U.K under the factories act."Any person working a shift over 6 hours is entitled by law to a break of nol ess than 1hrs.duration and that break must be taken away from their designated work area."

Answer 4

Breakfast and dinner are my favorites - breakfast because I am so hungry at the start of a new day and it feels great to eat. Dinner because I eat the most then and I always make sure to eat something really tasty!

Answer 5

This is scandalous! Is she not in a union that could stand up for her? I would contact watchdog -no, sorry that's for consumers... but who knows maybe they'd be interested? Your friend's boss could be on their records for other reasons anyway...
It has to stop. She needs to contact a solicitor and get advice then take action. Well done for supporting her, it's time to put the Victorian Age back where it belongs!

Answer 6

for safety reasons she shouldn't be working the whole shift by herself, and not having any toliet breaks during that leangth of time can lead to urinary tract infections.
Ithere should be a branch of the government that you can get ahold of and report the company

Answer 7

legal entitelment is for every 4 hours worked you get a 10 min break
for every 8 hours u get a 1 hour break

Answer 8

They are breaking the law, she needs to speak to the union or get out of there.

Answer 9

Does she work for tesco by any chance? I find that a lot...she should speak to a union rep. good luck and merry Christmas x

Answer 10

sounds like she works in a sweat shop.