New contract overtime

[fadetogrey63]

Been in the job just over two months and just started doing overtime, however my manager now tells me if I work say a hour and 20 mins over I'll only be put down/get paid for 1 hour as I don't get paid for my 20min break, so am I meant to finish my day as usual then sit around the office for 20 mins before starting my overtime.. I've never had a 20 min break since I started working here anyhow. All seems very unfair and makes doing overtime not worth it for new starters

[Smoothbackground]

Sounds like they’re deducting the 20-minute break time from your overall shift time to calculate your OT, though I get exactly what you mean - esp as it is meaning your OT is docked 20 minutes.

For example, the new-contract posties at ours who are on 30-hr contracts, instead of doing a six-hour shift (9.00 am to 3.00 pm), have to do a 6hr 20min shift, (8.40 am to 3.00 pm) since “the computer” expects then to be working for six whole hours, plus taking a 20-minute unpaid break, and there is a supposed deficit in numbers on the computer if clocked in for just six hours.

[TopperGas]

Been in the job just over two months and just started doing overtime, however my manager now tells me if I work say a hour and 20 mins over I'll only be put down/get paid for 1 hour as I don't get paid for my 20min break, so am I meant to finish my day as usual then sit around the office for 20 mins before starting my overtime.. I've never had a 20 min break since I started working here anyhow. All seems very unfair and makes doing overtime not worth it for new starters

You clearly should be taking a break, what's unfair is new starters don't get paid, but you can imagine once the % of new starters is high enough everybody will be moved over to not getting paid for breaks.

[tramssirhc]

If you work over 6 hours a day then the working time regulations state that you are entitled to an unpaid 20 minute break away from your place of work. This 20 minute unpaid break cannot be at the beginning or the end of the working time. The CWU has done nothing about ensuring this break is built into the working time of the members who it applies to.

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

[heraldmoth]

I’d suggest take the 20 minute break and do an hours OT and leave 20 mins of mail

[yellowbelly]

Makes you wonder how many new starts this is happening to who don't realise because they get paid at the end of the month,
don't keep an accurate record of what OT they've worked on what days and what day the payroll cut off is.

[fadetogrey63]

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

My manager says my actual fin time should be 20 mins later than those on old 30 hour contracts who get paid for breaks, at the moment I'm working to their times, but he's now saying maybe I should come in 20 mins earlier, but then when would I take my break as the posties I partner with work through theirs.. I can't just stop for 20 mins

[fadetogrey63]

I’d suggest take the 20 minute break and do an hours OT and leave 20 mins of mail

I'm always partnered with someone on the old contract who works through their break, I can't just stop and let them carry on, this two separate contracts and pay for the same job is just ridiculous, how it's legal is beyond me..

[ted_e_bear]

I’d suggest take the 20 minute break and do an hours OT and leave 20 mins of mail

I'm always partnered with someone on the old contract who works through their break, I can't just stop and let them carry on, this two separate contracts and pay for the same job is just ridiculous, how it's legal is beyond me..

The only solution I can think of is the people you're partnered with should take their break, yes I know, easier said than done, most of our clowns don't take breaks, some start far too early.

Obviously if you start 20 mins early/finish later then you'll be working that 20 for free if you feel you can't stop working due to the people you're working with.

[kazardaimenu]

Sounds like if you’re not taking the break you shouldn’t start early/ finish later as you’ve already worked all your hours. It’s a crazy situation and Royal Mail refuse to keep things simple.

[tramssirhc]

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

My manager says my actual fin time should be 20 mins later than those on old 30 hour contracts who get paid for breaks, at the moment I'm working to their times, but he's now saying maybe I should come in 20 mins earlier, but then when would I take my break as the posties I partner with work through theirs.. I can't just stop for 20 mins

If you're doing 6 hour days you won't get a break. The duty should finish at the time the old contracts are due back in the office. If that's 1500 you start at 0900. The biggest problem you have is that the CWU couldn't care less about the new contracts and have done nothing to sort the breaks out.

[tramssirhc]

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

My manager says my actual fin time should be 20 mins later than those on old 30 hour contracts who get paid for breaks, at the moment I'm working to their times, but he's now saying maybe I should come in 20 mins earlier, but then when would I take my break as the posties I partner with work through theirs.. I can't just stop for 20 mins

Example of the duty structure:

30 hours (old contracts) 30 min break (split 10/20) 0820-1440
30 hours (new contract) no break (6 hour duty) 0820-1420

Both duties go home at 1420.

[TopperGas]

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

My manager says my actual fin time should be 20 mins later than those on old 30 hour contracts who get paid for breaks, at the moment I'm working to their times, but he's now saying maybe I should come in 20 mins earlier, but then when would I take my break as the posties I partner with work through theirs.. I can't just stop for 20 mins

Example of the duty structure:

30 hours (old contracts) 30 min break (split 10/20) 0820-1440
30 hours (new contract) no break (6 hour duty) 0820-1420

Both duties go home at 1420.

But somewhere along the line the new contract employee has to take their 30 mins break?

[funkflex55]

30 hours (old contracts) 30 min break (split 10/20) 0820-1440

This looks incorrect if the paid break is at the end of the duty. Should be 840 - 1440 but clock out at 1420. So 6 hours including 30 mins of paid breaks.

[tramssirhc]

As for the situation where you are undertaking 1 hr and 20 minutes overtime but say you're only being paid 1 hr, that's an unlawful deduction of wages.

My manager says my actual fin time should be 20 mins later than those on old 30 hour contracts who get paid for breaks, at the moment I'm working to their times, but he's now saying maybe I should come in 20 mins earlier, but then when would I take my break as the posties I partner with work through theirs.. I can't just stop for 20 mins

Example of the duty structure:

30 hours (old contracts) 30 min break (split 10/20) 0820-1440
30 hours (new contract) no break (6 hour duty) 0820-1420

Both duties go home at 1420.

But somewhere along the line the new contract employee has to take their 30 mins break?

What break? New contracts have no paid break and are not covered by the legacy agreement. The working time regulations state that workers who work more than 6 hours are entitled to a 20 minute unpaid break which cannot be at the beginning or the end of the working time.

I've no idea what this 30 minute break is that you're on about.