breaks/lunch hours

[123bernadett]

How long can an employer expect you to work without giving you a break? Can an employer change your contract re length of break times to suit their commercial needs? If so what is the point of a contract?

[ugly_bob]

You are entitled to a 15 minute paid break for every 4 hours you work. Not sure on the entitlement to lunch hours which are usually unpiad.

Hence, you find a lot of supermarket shifts being 3hrs45 cos then they don't have to give you a break.

[Lou Knee]

an employer is legally bound to give you a break of at least 20 minutes once you have worked 6 hours.........tea breaks (paid or not) are at his/her discretion

[Lou Knee]

oooooooops forgot this bit.....

contracts can be changed at the emplyer's whim..........if you dont agree to the changes your only remedy is to find another employer im afraid.

[Holbeckian]

Lou Knee - you're correct about the breaks but a contract cannot be changed simply at an employer's whim. From the DTI:

"The contract of employment is binding on both parties. This means that it is unlawful for one party to vary the terms and conditions in the contract without the agreement of the other."

However,

"The contract itself may, however, include provisions allowing the employer to make important changes - for example, requiring the employee to move to a different place of work or to undertake a different type of work. In the case of a change covered by a provision of this kind, there is no variation of the terms and conditions in the contract and the change will be lawful."

So just be careful what you sign..!!

[stoo_pid]

Your employer has a legal obligation to provide you with a 20-minute break for every 6 hours worked. These breaks should be taken during the 6-hour period, not at the start or end. ("Young workers" are entitled to a 30 minute break every 4 hours.) These breaks do not have to be paid. Click here for more info.

There are some exceptions to the above, and yes, your breaks can be amended, but only under certain circumstances. If your breaks are amended your employer must still provide "compensatory rest" - i.e. the same total break time we are all entitled to, but taken at a later stage. Click here for the full list of exceptions & further info.