Is this allowed?

[aka pixi]

Theres full and part time workers where I work and our breaks are staggered. Yesterday I was given first break and one of the full time people got second break. I was told by the manager that I had got to take the full time person off the machine so they could go on first break and I had to have their second break. When I asked why I was told 'Because they are full time and you are part time' I questioned this and ended up getting hauled in front of the boss who said it was a reasonable request. My mate thinks its discrimination towards part time workers. Is this right?

[lajohn]

full time worker always have precedence over part time employees. tell your boss to make you full time.

[aka pixi]

that may be true about the precedence lajohn but is it legal?

I couldnt work full time so thats not an option, plus i wouldnt expect a part time worker to be forced to swap breaks with me even if i was full time.

[buildersmate]

You are getting a break of the correct length.
It's not enshrined when you shall have that break.
I really don't see the problem here.
It is a reasonable management request.

[factor-fiction]

If you are worrying about something as trivial as this I think you may be in the wrong job or may find you will never progress

[Lil O'lady]

It's not discrimination, it's your boss organising his team in the way he wants. The common sense unwritten contract is that you do what your boss asks, and if you keep working hard enough and smart enough then one day you might be a boss. But you can't give back-chat and expect to be well thought of. It's only against the law if you are not allowed reasonable breaks in proportion to the hours you work or are orederd to do a task that is dangerous or illegal. If you want to build up a relationship with your boss where you can have discussions about who does what and when you must work at this relationship as you would at any other.

[aka pixi]

tetjam, shurrup

lil o'lady i didnt give back chat I asked why

and after seeing my boss again when I was in work yesterday (his request) I found out he had decided it wasnt a reasonable request and part timers shouldnt be treated any different to full timers.

[Lil O'lady]

Well good for you, and keep it up. Your boss obviously likes you and is prepared to listen to suggestions, which is a rare skill in my experience.