Work related expectations/legalities regarding lunch breaks
Discussion
This could be a bit of a trudge so apologies.
The background is I've worked for a company for around 15 years. 3 years ago we moved to "mobile working". We have always worked from our vans for the most part, although we had a yard with stores, offices, but more importantly lockers, toilets, wash areas, places to dry clothes, a kettle, microwave and basic facilities like this. We could also leave the van there during holidays etc.
Since the change to mobile working we don't have a yard at all. We have mobile devices we can speak to the office which is now elsewhere via email etc. It's much more efficient granted.
My concerns is that we are basically expected to eat our lunches in our vans. Yet have nowhere to freshen up or wash hands. We are told that we can use leisure centres during our breaks. However we only get 30 minutes for lunch and no other breaks. We are often 15-20 minutes from a council leisure centre. We can be at least ten minutes from a shop, yet we have to log off from a job for lunch then take our 30 mins. So management know if we go over. We have also been told that we shouldn't leave the area we are working for lunch. Which could leave us with no access to a toilet all day. We work in residential properties mainly, repairs/maintenance, plumbing/carpentry. There's around 120 tradesmen employed on this basis.
Does anything I've put down seem unfair to anyone? I'm worried we are missing certain aspects of our rights but could be wrong and I've read contradictory things online.
Worth mentioning perhaps that one of the guys is facing disciplinary for peeing in a bucket in the back of the van.
The background is I've worked for a company for around 15 years. 3 years ago we moved to "mobile working". We have always worked from our vans for the most part, although we had a yard with stores, offices, but more importantly lockers, toilets, wash areas, places to dry clothes, a kettle, microwave and basic facilities like this. We could also leave the van there during holidays etc.
Since the change to mobile working we don't have a yard at all. We have mobile devices we can speak to the office which is now elsewhere via email etc. It's much more efficient granted.
My concerns is that we are basically expected to eat our lunches in our vans. Yet have nowhere to freshen up or wash hands. We are told that we can use leisure centres during our breaks. However we only get 30 minutes for lunch and no other breaks. We are often 15-20 minutes from a council leisure centre. We can be at least ten minutes from a shop, yet we have to log off from a job for lunch then take our 30 mins. So management know if we go over. We have also been told that we shouldn't leave the area we are working for lunch. Which could leave us with no access to a toilet all day. We work in residential properties mainly, repairs/maintenance, plumbing/carpentry. There's around 120 tradesmen employed on this basis.
Does anything I've put down seem unfair to anyone? I'm worried we are missing certain aspects of our rights but could be wrong and I've read contradictory things online.
Worth mentioning perhaps that one of the guys is facing disciplinary for peeing in a bucket in the back of the van.
Packed lunch? It's what I took many years ago...
H&S guidance is:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf
I think it falls under the "isn't reasonably practicable" exclusion.
"Use of public toilets and washing facilities should be a last resort and not used just because they are the cheaper option. This would not be acceptable where the provision of better facilities would be reasonably practicable."
H&S guidance is:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf
I think it falls under the "isn't reasonably practicable" exclusion.
"Use of public toilets and washing facilities should be a last resort and not used just because they are the cheaper option. This would not be acceptable where the provision of better facilities would be reasonably practicable."
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