Break Times at Work

butterfly28

Can anyone tell me if it's acceptable to work 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday and get just half an hour break in between?? It doesn't feel right!

Volovo

They should at least give you the weekend off I believe

gumbo1

butterfly28 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if it's acceptable to work 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday and get just half an hour break in between?? It doesn't feel right!

Google "the organisation of the working time act 1990". Most employers give a little extra time asa "gesture of good will" but that act should have all your enentitlements in it! Is there a union in your company? If so, then your union rep will be able to answer your questions!

Stheno

butterfly28 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if it's acceptable to work 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday and get just half an hour break in between?? It doesn't feel right!

Yes it's acceptable half hour break is due after six hours unless you are working in retail between certain hours

Avatar MIA

I think you might be entitled to a short 10 minute break as well, but not 100% sure

Stheno

Avatar MIA wrote: »

I think you might be entitled to a short 10 minute break as well, but not 100% sure

I after four and a half hours it's 15 minutes after six thirty which can include the first fifteen then another fifteen after another four and a halfhours

ComfortKid

By law, I think its at least a 15 min break every 4 hours. I used work 12 hour shift and get a 15min break plus 25 min lunch break. Consider yourself lucky.

Avatar MIA

Details here...

(3Ws).citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/hours_of_work/rest_periods_and_breaks.html

Insert the www at the start, can't post links

MarkAnthony

Stheno wrote: »

I after four and a half hours it's 15 minutes after six thirty which can include the first fifteen then another fifteen after another four and a halfhours

This OP. Yes 8 hours with 30 minutes is perfectly fine.

Penny Tration

MarkAnthony wrote: »

This OP. Yes 8 hours with 30 minutes is perfectly fine.

Depends on where they work tbh.

If they work in retail, and their 8 hour shift encompasses the hours between 11.30am and 2.30pm, they're entitled to a 60 minute unpaid break before 2.30pm, if I remember correctly.

Stheno

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Depends on where they work tbh.

If they work in retail, and their 8 hour shift encompasses the hours between 11.30am and 2.30pm, they're entitled to a 60 minute unpaid break before 2.30pm, if I remember correctly.

Correct, it's the one exclusion that applies, they must get a one hour break

Shop employees who work more than 6 hours and whose hours of work include 11.30am-2.30pm are entitled to a one hour consecutive break which must occur during those hours.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/hours_of_work/rest_periods_and_breaks.html

Copper_pipe

Working a factory for the summer. 8 hour shifts. Allowed 2 * 20 mins breaks

MarkAnthony

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Depends on where they work tbh.

If they work in retail, and their 8 hour shift encompasses the hours between 11.30am and 2.30pm, they're entitled to a 60 minute unpaid break before 2.30pm, if I remember correctly.

I thought these went out during the debacle with employment agreements. I'm open to correction but I'd be dubious on putting too much stock into these old union agreements until that was checked.

IIRC it was any shift encompassing those hours (basically to stop retailers employing a lunch shift).

MarkAnthony

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Working a factory for the summer. 8 hour shifts. Allowed 2 * 20 mins breaks

Actually illegal believe it or not.

Although the break after 6 hours can encompass the first 15 minute break you can't give 15 then 15. If you give 15 in the first 4.5 hours you have to then give 30 after 6 hours.

Penny Tration

MarkAnthony wrote: »

I thought these went out during the debacle with employment agreements. I'm open to correction but I'd be dubious on putting too much stock into these old union agreements until that was checked.

IIRC it was any shift encompassing those hours (basically to stop retailers employing a lunch shift).

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/hours_of_work/rest_periods_and_breaks.html

Still valid as per citizensinformation.ie for shop workers.

Stheno

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Actually illegal believe it or not.

Although the break after 6 hours can encompass the first 15 minute break you can't give 15 then 15. If you give 15 in the first 4.5 hours you have to then give 30 after 6 hours.

Not according to citizens information link above?

MarkAnthony

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/hours_of_work/rest_periods_and_breaks.html

Still valid as per citizensinformation.ie for shop workers.

Stheno wrote: »

Not according to citizens information link above?

Citizens advice can and do get it wrong. I'm open to correction on the ERO side of things, perhaps the hour is still valid for retail workers, however:

12.—(1) An employer shall not require an employee to work for a period of more than 4 hours and 30 minutes without allowing him or her a break of at least 15 minutes.

(2) An employer shall not require an employee to work for a period of more than 6 hours without allowing him or her a break of at least 30 minutes; such a break may include the break referred to in subsection (1).

(3) The Minister may by regulations provide, as respects a specified class or classes of employee, that the minimum duration of the break to be allowed to such an employee under subsection (2) shall be more than 30 minutes (but not more than 1 hour).

(4) A break allowed to an employee at the end of the working day shall not be regarded as satisfying the requirement contained in subsection (1) or (2).

The legislation is clear. A 30 minute break may include the 15 but there is no provision for 2 15 minute breaks. There is also no provision to allow an employer to split the period into 2 x 4.5 hour blocks allowing for 2 x 15 minute breaks.