Overtime. advice needed asap

[tucker4789]

Hi guys, im new to royal mail and would first off like to say hi.
Been working for 8 weeks now.
Secondly id like some advice on how overtime works at royal mail. Im on a part time contract 9-1 each day but come in at 7 six days a week so id say i do 12 hours overtime.
Iv been led to believe by a manager that 30 minutes has to be taken out of each days overtime for a break?? Leaving me with 9 hours overtime for the week. For the last 8 weeks i thought this was how it was so iv signed for overtime each week thinking nothing of it (being new) until another employee brought it up and he got told that we should get paid full 12 hours. We took this to a section manager and he also sed he'd never heard of this and to take it up with our boss.
Im just curious to know if it is right or not coz 3 hours a week over the last 8 weeks adds up.
Any information would be great, thanks

[wannabeek]

We get paid breaks at RM. It's called 'meal relief' and every office seems to have a different policy about when to take it but it's usually split into 2 parts during the day, unless it's only 20 mins you're entitled to.

Your daily entitlement depends on how many hours you work that day. In your case, if you only work the 4 hrs contracted, you're entitled to 20 mins paid. If you work up to 7 hrs that day you get 30 mins paid. If you work up to 8hrs 59 you get 40 mins.

Do I understand you've been having 30 mins break each day and a manager has tricked you into believing that you should not be getting paid for that?

Only SA overtime does not get a paid break included.

Pursue it, hopefully with advice from colleagues first. There are many good ones and by now hopefully you've met one or two of them to give you good advice.

[tucker4789]

Hi. Im contracted 9-1 everyday but work 2 hours overtime. I dont take my break for the 4 hours coz i grab something while out. I do my 2 hours overtime starting at 7 to sort my mail. I do this every day.
The problem i got is that wen i get paid for my overtime each week i only have 9 hours overtime instead of 12. My manager takes 30mins out of each days overtime and he told me its for break. I thought this was how it was until i mentioned it to a long serving colleague that told me i shud get the whole 12 hours?? And afew have said the same since.

[wannabeek]

So you don't even take your break and he still takes 30 mins out of your pay to cover it?

Are you in the union yet? If not, do consider joining as it sounds like you may have a manger who may abuse your lack of knowledge. You can join online if you want. Loads of links and info on this site if you search for it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hi. Im contracted 9-1 everyday but work 2 hours overtime. I dont take my break for the 4 hours coz i grab something while out. I do my 2 hours overtime starting at 7 to sort my mail. I do this every day.
The problem i got is that wen i get paid for my overtime each week i only have 9 hours overtime instead of 12. My manager takes 30mins out of each days overtime and he told me its for break. I thought this was how it was until i mentioned it to a long serving colleague that told me i shud get the whole 12 hours?? And afew have said the same since.

Its worse that that, as wannabeek suggests join the CWU pronto , your gaffer is not only doing you 1/2 an hours overtime every day - but he also is doing you over the meal relief - its paid for so he shouldn't be taking off your overtime - I reckon you are owed an hour a day not 30 minutes. Just a word of warning though do not go in guns blazing when you speak to the manager, They'll probably try to weasel out of what they said to you, just take that at face value as long as they pay you what they owe.