Night workers - Security related job

[Lilbro]

Hi,

I work on a rota, 2 days 2 nights 4 off
when on days theres in total 6 of us 3 perm day shift workers and 3 who work the same rota as me , during lunch breaks we are aloud to leave the place of work to get our lunch during normal working hours (days)

however on nights we are not anymore , even though 3 of us be working on nights, some bring sandwiches and some used to get something out the vending machine ( which they have removed now, so no vending machine anymore )
I'm not to keen on sandwiches and now i cant get anything out the vending machines ( crisps, pop etc ) or go to the local chipy and end up going hungry all night

I understand that working in security/surveillance sort of job you have different rights to someone who just works nights in a office? alot less i belive

can i leave my place of work at night for a break? and what are my rights? if there is any..

any help much appreciated

Thanks

[Ethel]

Are your breaks paid or unpaid?

[cassa333]

I have no idea about the breaks and stuff like that but if all you want to eat is junk from a vending machine you can take it in yourself. Bottles of coke tec are also cheeper than a vending machine and pasty or pie won't be warm (unless you have access to a microwave) but is better than 'starving'.

If your job requires you to be on the premises then that I suppose is where you have to be.

Have you found out why this has changed for the night shift? That may give you a reasonable answer to why. However have a word with them and ask if or how they can resolve your issues. They may not even be aware you have difficulties because of the changes.

[spudqueen]

Maybe there's something in the insurance which states that there have to be a certain number of people in the building at any one time.
Anyway, why don't you go to the shops before going to work and stock up on all the snacks you'll need. If you don't like sandwiches why not take in some other food? You could have cheese and crackers, or (dare I say it?) a salad, or soup from a thermos flask, or pork pies, or sausage rolls or scotch eggs. If you have a microwave then you could take in pies or a ready meal.
The shop I work in is very close to a secure mental health unit, and the night staff often call in before their shift to stock up on all sorts of snacks.

[Lilbro]

well i work 12 hour shifts with a 1 hour break that can be spent away from my desk but not off premises, however in the past you could pop out to get a bite to eat as long as it took us 10-20 mins to do so, we get paid breaks,

its just that recently there was a huge security breach at one of the sites we monitor hence why they have stopped us from leaving the premises to get food
which shouldn't really change anything as we are still allowed to be away from desk for one hour

we have facilities to warm food and make hot drinks
but not everyone likes microwaved food

[Ethel]

They pay you during your breaks, they make the rules.

Incidentally, security work is excluded from quite a few employment laws, including the ones regulating workers' rest times.

There is nothing you can do about it.

[spudqueen]

I'm sorry Lilbro - 'but not everyone likes microwaved food'??

What's wrong with taking in your own food and microwaving it just to heat it up? You could take in stews or casseroles, shepherds pie, or chilli. Use your imagination, I'm sure you'll be able to find food that you like that you can eat at work. Save the takeaway stuff for when you're not working!