Meal breaks: being forced to take 20 before you go out and 20 out. Is that correct?

[postmanzach]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

[clashcityrocker]

Your meal relief pattern should be whatever you as an office collectively decide.
If the office votes to take 40 minutes before going out then that is what everyone should do.
If the office votes a 20/20 split then that is what everyone should do.

Failure to agree an acceptable meal relief pattern means it is whatever your manager tells you it is.
It shouldn't be a personal decision unless you have some medical condition that necessitates a certain pattern.

[Barnacle]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

I am not disagreeing with what Clash has written, however I work on my own and don’t finish 20 mins early because of a break not taken. I do what you did which is to take my allowed break quota, when I need a break. I have never been pulled up about because I assume, they have noted that I am not claiming for a break and I don’t take the mick.

[IAMNOTANUMBER]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

If you are told 20 mins before you go out and 20 mins while you are out, then do it. But in your scenario you could say I took extra break while out because irate customer presented me with card demanding a parcel, in turn my break was interrupted to search for parcel in the back of the van. If the donkey ain't interested tell him you will in future have your breaks as stipulated but any complaints must be dealt with by him. I stand to be corrected but I'm sure your break resets if interuppted whilst on it

[2chorizon]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

It is 40 mins "OR" 20 + 20
No 5 & 32

[yellowbelly]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

Not signed in on your PDA - snotty phone call/text/conversation.
Not done your van check on PDA - snotty phone call/text.
Break not taken in the correct proportion - snotty phone call/text.

What the hell is this company coming to?

Management fails to plan properly resulting in multiple USO failures - meh! Collective management shoulder shrug.

[SpacePhoenix]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

Not signed in on your PDA - snotty phone call/text/conversation.
Not done your van check on PDA - snotty phone call/text.
Break not taken in the correct proportion - snotty phone call/text.

What the hell is this company coming to?

Management fails to plan properly resulting in multiple USO failures - meh! Collective management shoulder shrug.

Think it's the higher ups leaning on COMs to account for every last hour being used

[tramssirhc]

It all depends what's been agreed with the Union. If a break is taken outdoors it must be away from the workplace i.e. not sat in the van.

[shepherdess]

A meal break must be taken in the middle of the day, I'd drive back to the office have my full meal break and then drive back to my delivery and let the managers worry about it

[Smoothbackground]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

It is 40 mins "OR" 20 + 20
No 5 & 32

This may be the case for those of you lucky enough to have paid breaks. If the company is paying for your break, it is sort of reasonable for them to dictate when, where and how you take that break.

For those of us on new-style contracts and unpaid breaks I take a different view, especially after the network changes. Those 40 minutes are mine. The company pays for - and gets - only eight hours of my time. My 40-minute break is taken (or not taken) as I determine.

[twoloops]

At my office it seems to be frowned upon if you take a break. Everyone just works right through.

Think we have about 120/130 posties in our office, I only ever see the same 30 odd in the restroom having their break

[scotchy1962]

I took 5mins before I went out and stopped for 32
Mins whilst I was out and been called up on it.
Told suppose to only take 20 at a time.
Anyone got a link to annoying official about this?

It is 40 mins "OR" 20 + 20
No 5 & 32

This may be the case for those of you lucky enough to have paid breaks. If the company is paying for your break, it is sort of reasonable for them to dictate when, where and how you take that break.

For those of us on new-style contracts and unpaid breaks I take a different view, especially after the network changes. Those 40 minutes are mine. The company pays for - and gets - only eight hours of my time. My 40-minute break is taken (or not taken) as I determine.

Now that's the correct answer, smooth isn't paid for his break and doesn't need to answer to the company about when he takes it. As for the rest of us on old contracts...... because we are paid for them i guess the company has some sort of input. I have read this numerous times on here, but i find it hard to believe, that management force people to take a break before leaving or sometimes not long after they come into work.
I would have thought that the union could put up a robust argument that forcing people to take their break, or part of it, means they have less time for a proper break when they need it more. Especially in the summer when the heat is here. Also there has to be a argument that with the later starts taking a early break puts more stress/pressure on posties, as they are later out anyway, and will affect their mental health in the long term.

[SMS1969]

At my office it seems to be frowned upon if you take a break. Everyone just works right through.

FFS,then people wander why additional loops get added on to routes.

[Marshamp11]

As far as I am concerned I am entitled to a 40 minute meal relief and a 40 minute meal relief I will take. If the manager wishes me to take it at a certain time then fine, but cannot make me take it until I have been working a minimum of 2 hours. As cynical as it may sound the only reason RM are pushing for 20/20 is because the minimum legal requirement for a break for over 6 hours worked is 20 minutes. How long before RM decide that the workforce is happy to only take 20 minutes initially early on that they change the meal breaks to 20 minutes total. Wake up people.

[Kenfandango]

In ours the managers tell us it's 20 in, 20 out. With a few exceptions, anyone with the sheer gall to attempt to take their 20 in the break room will get constantly pestered by managers asking them how long they've been, how long they plan to be there, where's this address, do you know if so and so is still here etc