Lunch break at work
Discussion
Bit of a rant really. Heres the story.
New guy has started at work 3 weeks ago, he has been told he is entitled to his 30 min lunch break which is fine.
Now we work at a small motor factors (3 of us on the desk/phones) and generally we occasionally pop down the town of a lunch or just sit and our desks and do without a break.
We have decided as new boy gets a break we would like to start taking our 30 mins as we are entitled to but the boss man has said, if you want a break then its minimum wage. If you carry on as usual (no proper lunch) then normal wage.
Can he do this?
Thanks in advance
New guy has started at work 3 weeks ago, he has been told he is entitled to his 30 min lunch break which is fine.
Now we work at a small motor factors (3 of us on the desk/phones) and generally we occasionally pop down the town of a lunch or just sit and our desks and do without a break.
We have decided as new boy gets a break we would like to start taking our 30 mins as we are entitled to but the boss man has said, if you want a break then its minimum wage. If you carry on as usual (no proper lunch) then normal wage.
Can he do this?
Thanks in advance
He is a very reasonable employer thats the problem and is also a very good friend, i think thats what annoyed me the most how he reacted to me having my lunch break.
He has now put his point across that we are allowed to use our phones and internet etc and as long as we get the work done he doesnt mind what we do within reason.
Id still like to know if he can legally drop us to minimum wage if we decide to have lunch.
And my contract states 30 mins lunch break
He has now put his point across that we are allowed to use our phones and internet etc and as long as we get the work done he doesnt mind what we do within reason.
Id still like to know if he can legally drop us to minimum wage if we decide to have lunch.
And my contract states 30 mins lunch break
Does he mean he's paying you minimum wage for the duration of the break? Or for the entire working week?
The boss sounds like an arse to me. If he's happy to break rules regarding working times and breaks, then what else is he doing?
(An ex-employer of mine was a bit like that, he ended up stealing 2 years of our pension contributions and going down for it.)
Def check the contract.
The boss sounds like an arse to me. If he's happy to break rules regarding working times and breaks, then what else is he doing?
(An ex-employer of mine was a bit like that, he ended up stealing 2 years of our pension contributions and going down for it.)
Def check the contract.
If you really do want this I suggest the three/four of you join forces and make it clear you are entitled to and want a break. However much of a 'mate' you think he is take stock of the fact he is lining his pockets at your expense.
However much people deride unions they are the sole reason for huge improvements in the work environment.
However much people deride unions they are the sole reason for huge improvements in the work environment.
I assume your salary is contracted?
In which case, he cannot give you a pay cut just because he feels like it and if you could prove it's because you're taking a lunch break you'd have a very good case against him.
However, I suspect your boss knows squat about HR and is just trying to extract the max out of you in a crap way.
I also suspect that if you rock the boat too much, he'll find another way to hurt you work-wise.
Be an adult - sit down with him and explain that you don't mind working through when it's busy, but don't want it to be every day. Be reasonable.
If he still gives you grief, consider how important your 30 mins is versus fighting your boss over this issue and go from there.
FWIW, the lowest paid employee in my dept arrives at 0900, takes precisely 60 mins for lunch and leaves at 1700 on the dot. I am entitled to do the same, but I don't get to and don't complain about it because I am more senior.
She doesn't complain that she doesn't earn as much as me either.
If you're considered more senior to new-boy and have a salary that reflects that, bear it in mind.
In which case, he cannot give you a pay cut just because he feels like it and if you could prove it's because you're taking a lunch break you'd have a very good case against him.
However, I suspect your boss knows squat about HR and is just trying to extract the max out of you in a crap way.
I also suspect that if you rock the boat too much, he'll find another way to hurt you work-wise.
Be an adult - sit down with him and explain that you don't mind working through when it's busy, but don't want it to be every day. Be reasonable.
If he still gives you grief, consider how important your 30 mins is versus fighting your boss over this issue and go from there.
FWIW, the lowest paid employee in my dept arrives at 0900, takes precisely 60 mins for lunch and leaves at 1700 on the dot. I am entitled to do the same, but I don't get to and don't complain about it because I am more senior.
She doesn't complain that she doesn't earn as much as me either.
If you're considered more senior to new-boy and have a salary that reflects that, bear it in mind.
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