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Quick Question in Regards to Lunch Breaks

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  • 08-08-2009 8:42pm
    #1
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users Posts: 14,974 ✭✭✭✭


    Hey Folks,

    The missus started a new job and is employed part time. However because the place is so busy all the part time staff are working a full week. When she starts a full 8 hour shift at 12:45pm she's sent on her 40min lunch break an hour later. She then has to work 5 hours until her next break which is 20mins.

    Can they send her on her lunch an hour after starting?
    Tagged:


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    #2
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users Posts: 9,624 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    They shouldn't. Usually it's a break after 4 hours. If it is one on the major supermarkets / dept stores the supervisor will know this and it could be an oversight.

    If not you may have to bring it to their attention.

    Page 1 / 2nd column here :

    http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/media/Workingtimeact.pdf

    Most unions agreed conditions in addition to this since 1997 and these are usually in the hand book if the co. issues one.

    If there is a lunch sheet for all staff have a look and see is it just her or are all twilight staff getting 5.5 hrs between breaks.


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    #3
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,964 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    It seems a bit unfair alright. It could backfire though as she would only be legally obliged to a 30min break in an 8 hour shift (with some exceptions).

    At the moment she is getting 60mins.


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    #4
    doolox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭doolox


    I once worked shift for a large, demanding, multinational who operated 12 hour shifts with official 10-minute breaks and a half hour midshift break, all paid, which was stretched unofficially to much longer breaks to allow for gowning and getting to and from the cleanrooms etc.
    Someone complained to HR about the difference in his allowed breaks:-20 mins and 1 hour for midshift as opposed to what he was told about the next areas gets.
    The result was that HR insisted on everyone working the legally sanctioned 10 minute and 1/2 hour midshifts with no allowance for gowning/ungowning or getting to and from the cleanroom.
    This state of affairs lasted 1-2 months until attention of the HR authorities drifted elsewhere.
    Having since moved on to better things and an office environment in my new job I can see how HR departments, who never had to do a manual job in a restricted environment on their feet all that time may find that 10 minute breaks and 1/2 hour lunch is enough but it isn't as any one who has worked in an unseated cleanroom production environment will know.
    Thank God the final word came down to the supervisors who all had to work in the cleanroom and were, as a result, more lenient with the breaks because of their experience of what was possible.


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