Leaving Shop During My Lunch Hour

[fairycakes69]

I' m a paid sales assistant in a charity shop, just been told I'm not allowed to leave the shop even for lunch. I'm in from 8.45 till 5.15, paid for 7 hours. Have worked for them for 4 years and they have just come up with this one, looked in handbook and no reference to this. Can they do this?

Thanks

[Nibble]

Have you checked your contract, re hours & breaks?

[Tilly2]

Do you have a staff room where you can eat your lunch?

[jomifl]

If you are paid for 7 hours per day then they can't make you work more as you would probably fall below the minimum wage so they would be breaking the law. Worth checking this out.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

You are working at least 8 hours and getting paid for 7.
Surely they either pay you for that hour or give you a lunch.

[Fanriffic]

If your lunch hour is unpaid then you can do what you want during YOUR lunch hour. If you want to leave the shop you can.

In my teens I worked in a small shop and they only asked if I could stay in if one member of staff was covering the lunch hour for security reasons and if the shop got busy - then took a late lunch or finish earlier.

[fairycakes69]

Yes have a staff room, entitled to 1 hour unpaid lunch. I normally nip out for 10 mins to grab something to eat. I know I can take food in, but just wondered if they can make me stay. Nothing in my contract saying I have to stay on the premises.

[emmie]

suggest you contact CAB for employment advice, take any contract, handbook with you, personally no one should be made to stay in, a lunch time should be part of your day.

[emmie]

so they don't pay you for the hour, so you can have a lunch...

[furrypusscat]

As has been said, if they don't pay you for the lunch period then you can do what you want in that time. It is your time not theirs.

[Tilly2]

Is it because you are short staffed. Are they expecting you to keep your eye on the shop whilst you are having your lunch?

[emmie]

agree ^^

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure they are expecting her to work (for nothing) over lunch- I read it they want her to remain on the premises while taking her lunch break. Maybe the reason is so she is readily available in case of an emergency, although if so there should be a process for paying her or giving time off in lieu if she's required to work

[shoota]

Who has told you this?
Someone in the shop or a person of authority from the charity?

[pixie373]

When i worked at the home, unpaid breaks could be taken where you liked. When I did DRP shifts, i wasn't allowed to leave the building, so lunch hours were paid too. Just make sure they pay you for the extra hour.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree with everyone else - unpaid lunch hour, your time to do with as you wish.

Lunch hour with those stipulations - equals an hours extra pay.

[fairycakes69]

They laid of all managers, so only 1 paid member of staff in at one time. The volunteers man the till, and when I nip out they know I'm out and will be 10 mins, always make sure there are at least 2 of them in the shop. Never had any problem, customers that need a refund are asked nicely if they can wait till I get back, when I get back and having lunch and someone needs me I go and help.

[Mamyalynne]

Because of the Charity aspect, they are preying on your good nature - an extra hours money it should be then.

[pixie373]

That might be good then, if you are already working in your lunch hour. You'll be paid for it, in future.

[shoota]

So has this decision come from 'head office' or some local manager making it up as she goes along?

[factor-fiction]

I can imagine there are a few jobs where, rightly or wrongly, staff work through some of their lunch or are 'on call'. As a teacher I am regularly sought out by students or other teachers at lunchtime, or I get a call from a parent, and these take precedence over my sandwich.