I Work 9 Hour Shifts. I Do Not Get A Lunch Break Or Any Other Break. Is There Anything I Can Do About This? And If There Is How Do I Go About It?

In the United Kingdom if you are over 18 and working a shift of over six hours at any one time, then you should have the right to a 20-minute break. Many companies will consider this as your lunch break and by law they are not entitled to give you any longer. Often longer lunch breaks will be allowed but they will not be paid for.

The types of breaks in the UK can be broken down into three: Rest breaks, daily rest and weekly rest. Rest breaks are the lunch breaks, tea breaks and any other short breaks that an employee takes during a working day. The amount of this break time is usually agreed with the employer and will either be written down somewhere in a contract of employment, or just be a part of the employer's standard practise. The employer must give you rest breaks as required by Working Time Regulations and any additional breaks that they feel will reduce any health and safety risks. The requirements for rest breaks are; the break must be in one block, it must be taken somewhere in the middle of the day - not at the end, you are allowed to spend the break away from the premises of where you work and your employer is allowed to dictate when you must take your break.

Daily breaks are the amount of time you are allowed to rest between working days. By law in the United Kingdom an employee has the rights to have a break of at least 11 hours between two shifts. For example if you finish work at 19:00 on a Monday then should not start work until 06:00 on the Tuesday.

The final type, a weekly rest, gives adult workers the right to have either an uninterrupted 24 hours clear of work each week or an uninterrupted 48 hours clear of work each fortnight.

OSHA standards states that for every eight hours you work you get a 30 minute  unpaid lunch break.  For the first 4 hours you work you get one 15 minute break you get another 15 minute paid break for 8 hours, immediately after 10 hours you are required to take a 5 minute paid break.At least thats posted up at my job.  It may be different from state to state you can look at www.OSHA.gov for details about your rights and what you can do to combat illegal work ethics besides finding another job.

I am not sure what happens in this situation, but I checked the state law (CT), and according to what I have seen, they are not required to give us breaks at all.  However, I do not know how this is considered in relation to the federal law (if there is one) about getting a 15 min. Break every 4 hour portion of a shift, and if working 8 hours you get a 1/2 hour unpaid or paid (depends on the employer on this).  I do not know if the federal law overrules the state laws on this or not.    I am also unsure on how OSHA puts this in perspective, because last I had heard, OSHA was responsible for unsafe work conditions (i.e., there is a HUGE hole in the floor near a commonly traveled path, and it is not adequately (proper spelling?) marked and/or blocked off as a safety hazard, and the company refuses to do anything about it, then that is an OSHA issue.)    As far as CT state law in regards to working 7 hours and getting a lunch break, that doesn't qualify.  You have to work at least 8 hours to get a 1/2 hour lunch, which knocks your actual time back to 7 1/2 hours.

The federal law states that you should get a 15 minute break every 4 hours along with a 30 minute lunch break.   You can report your employer to the federal labor board.  Mind you that you will be opening a can of worms.  They (government) will come in and look over the payroll books and maybe fine the company a penalty (money.) however, if the company tries to fire you, you can hopefully have this department back you up.

I work an 8 hour a day we start at 6 in the morning and then our first morning break is at 9:45 almost 4 hours later is this legal...and then lunch at 12 noon but afternoon break the work day ends at 2:30 p.m. Thanks

I work 12noon until 9pm. With out any break(this make my feet hurt very badly and I leave work very sick due to the fact of not having any thing to eat nor drink). Every time I bring it to my employers attention he rubs me off..! What should I do?

What if you work a 7 hour shift? Do you get 2 breaks and one lunch?

I am working saturday and sunday for from 9am to 6.30 pm with out any lunch break or any other break. I stand on my feet all day without any thing to eat and I feel very sick after work. I live in canada what to do?

I work a 7 hour shift and have been told I only get 20 min break is this correct