Breaks At Work To Get A Drink!

[buffymad]

Hello is there any kind of law that says you're entitled to get something to drink throughout the day? A friend's manager has told his staff that they can't go and get a cup of coffee or water etc! They work outdoors. Surely that's not good as it'll lead to dehydration etc?

Just wondered what the law said (if anything).

[Cloverjo]

Can they take a bottle of water out with them?

[janbee]

Everybody needs liquid throughout the day. They should take bottled water or a thermos.

[mccfluff]

h&s they are entitled legally to a 20 min break every 6 hours. it is a bit odd that they aren't allowed a coffee break

[AlwaysConfused]

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work
Yes, workers are entitled to breaks at work should they work over a certain amount of hours in one shift. As it is not freezing temperature outside at the moment, I can't see an employer allowing unlimited coffee breaks. But maybe they could negotiate with their employer to allow having a bottle of water or flask of coffee with them whilst working?

[hc4361]

What job do they do? Have they been taking the mick and spending ages in cafes?

[buffymad]

Cleaners outside a shopping centre. Their immediate boss says when they've done their main work in the morning they can go in for a cup of coffee. Big manager says no, that's not happening anymore!

He's also pulled faces in the summer when other workers took bottles of water out with them! He said that wasn't allowed at one point ...

[buildersmate]

You are entitled to a break of at least 20 minutes after working a maximum shift of 6 hours. That is the law. However this break does not have to be paid, and for most employees it is not paid. It consists the lunch/shift break.

Apart from that, local arrangements apply. It would be a stupid employer who did not allow an employee who moves around as part of the daily shift (a cleaner) not to be able to have a bottle of water with him/her to have during this six hour period between unpaid breaks. 'Going to get a cup of coffee' technically is not within the scope of this - it depends how far you are going to have to go to get it. Its the similar arrangement as time off to go to the loo - everyone needs to do it, but it needs to be managed if staff seem to be abusing the obvious need.

Most employers make sensible local rules - some managers don't and undoubtedly loose staff goodwill in the process.