Work Hours and Break

Sully

Can someone clarify the breaks your entitled if you work from 9am - 6pm daily (in some cases its earlier but you get home earlier as a result, but its the same hours). I remember when I worked in retail I was given a few mins in the morning, an hour for lunch and another few mins in the afternoon. Think they were all unpaid.

My understanding was every 4 hours its 15mins unpaid. But where does the hour break fit in during your working hours?

seamus

It is actually a little confusing.

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

Basically you are entitled to a 15-minute break if you work 4.5 hours, or a 30 minute break if you work 6 hours.

In your case with a nine-hour work day, you are entitled to a 30-minute (continuous) unpaid break at any time between 12pm and 3pm.

Why 12 & 3? Because they're not allowed to make you work more than 6 continuous hours without a 30 minute break - and going home does not count as a break.

token101

Sully wrote: »

Can someone clarify the breaks your entitled if you work from 9am - 6pm daily (in some cases its earlier but you get home earlier as a result, but its the same hours). I remember when I worked in retail I was given a few mins in the morning, an hour for lunch and another few mins in the afternoon. Think they were all unpaid.

My understanding was every 4 hours its 15mins unpaid. But where does the hour break fit in during your working hours?

Most employers will give you 15 in the morning, 30 at lunch and 15 in the afternoon. If they don't, take a piss on the floor at your desk and start having 'work related accidents', which would require the services of a personal injury lawyer. They'll soon get the picture.

Sully

So I suppose if your being given an hour lunch, it means that the two 15mins break are no longer valid?

seamus

Sully wrote: »

So I suppose if your being given an hour lunch, it means that the two 15mins break are no longer valid?

If you're being given an hour for lunch, they're satisfying their requirements under the law.

Sully

Thought as much. So I suppose its at the discretion of the employer if they wish to give you additional breaks. The hour break comes in at 12-1 and then its straight 5 hours without any additional break. Everywhere is different I guess, I got lucky in my old job (this doesn't apply to me, its for a friend I was curious about).

token101

In fairness, I've never heard of any work environment that would make you sit still for hours on end. They'd be stupid to. It would kill productivity fairly fast.

Sully

token101 wrote: »

In fairness, I've never heard of any work environment that would make you sit still for hours on end. They'd be stupid to. It would kill productivity fairly fast.

Its a job which your on your feet all the time - Childcare Assistant.

token101

Sully wrote: »

Its a job which your on your feet all the time - Childcare Assistant.

Sure minding kids isn't a job

Sully

token101 wrote: »

Sure minding kids isn't a job

You would be surprised. Its probably one of the more challenging jobs out there. Minding 11+ toddlers/babies. It may seem like a walk in the park, but those who have worked in it or know someone who works in a busy creche would paint a different picture.

Sometimes people forget that a lot of their child's raring is done by childcare workers because they spend the large majority of the week with them. Plus, people forget that if childcare workers went on strike it would lead to a big impact on many private and public businesses because parents will have to take leave to look after their children during the strike.

All of this and they generally only get paid a minimum wage, even if you have the highest degree possible in Ireland for childcare. Though, a lot of places seem to take on lower-level qualifications but rules are slowly being introduced by the HSE which I would hope will result in a basic level 8 degree in childcare being required to work in a creche.