Does you work place allow breaks?

[rascalmom]

I'm curious about what would be considered the"norm" for employee breaks. Everywhere I've worked previously, you just did what you need to do - take a side trip to the potty, the fridge or vending machine, etc. Now it seems some people percieve breaks as a set period of time. How much is considered reasonable? Do smokers expect to get extra break time to go outside & smoke? There is nothing specified the the employee manual or state law here, nor is this a unionized workplace, just a small service oriented business. What are you thoughts & expectations for breaks?

 

[Trib]

I work 9 to 5

I take 15 minutes at 10:30 and again at 3:00
1/2 hour for lunch at about 1:00

I could do an 1 hour lunch instead of the 2 break

 

[chesirechik]

I work for a major corporation in a huge office building.

Everyone just does what they want. No one ever says anything as long as the work gets done.

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm a substitute teacher so I usually get a Planning Period (48 min) and a lunch (35 min) in a 7 hr day.

 

[CEDmom]

I work for a major corporation in a large suburban business complex plus I telework on a regular basis. As long as I meet my deadlines and am available when needed I'm left to do my own thing. My coworkers do the same thing.

 

[Mishetta]

Any job I've ever held allowed for two 15 minute breaks (one in the a.m. & one in the p.m.) & either 30 minutes or 60 minutes for lunch (depending where I worked). The "smokers" all seemed to get more breaks than us non-smokers as they would take their breaks & then still go out to have their 'smoke' as needed!

You could still take "potty" breaks though throughout the day if you needed too!

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by Mishetta
Any job I've ever held allowed for two 15 minute breaks (one in the a.m. & one in the p.m.) & either 30 minutes or 60 minutes for lunch (depending where I worked). The "smokers" all seemed to get more breaks than us non-smokers as they would take their breaks & then still go out to have their 'smoke' as needed!

You could still take "potty" breaks though throughout the day if you needed too!

Same here. I work for a large corporation and some of the associates take structured breaks. When I go from building to building to go to another department, at any given time I see people just lounging around on benches, talking on their cell phones, eating, reading, etc, etc.

Some people take 1-1/2 hour lunches, too, but I guess I won't "go there."

I never took formal breaks. I go to the bathroom so much during the day, that I probably take more time just doing that than if I went on break regularly!

 

[doxdogy]

Every company I worked for gave two 15 minute breaks and then a half hour lunch (usually worked 8-430). For the smokers that was our time to smoke on our break. Believe it or not, I stuck to that schedule and didn't take extra smoke breaks.

 

[WeirdEyes]

I can take a break all day long if I have nothing to do...nothing said by the boss. I do work like a dog when I have a proposal to get out....including no lunch or break AND over-time. But I'm a salaried employee so I don't have to make up my time if I have to go to the doctor, have a sick child/dog, get my driver's license renewed, etc. We have a very relaxed office and I love it!

 

[obnurse2003]

I'm a Labor and Delivery nurse! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! That's a good one!!!! LOL!!!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Technically we get a 30 minute lunch break, but everyone takes 60. Otherwise, we go potty when we need to and everyone tends to take a coffee break together in the afternoon. No one smokes, so that isn't an issue, although there is a guy who works elsewhere in our building who is outside smoking every time any of us are out there. I can't imagine when he has time to work.

 

[Evil Princess]

One 15 minute for every shift up to 6 hours, once you hit 6 hours you get a 30 minute, then after 8 hours its an hour. Potty breaks are allowed I'm considerate and always told someone in my department that I'll be back in a few, but it isn't needed. Smokers always get more breaks, as a non smoker I found it to be unfair.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Every place I've worked at varied with their lunch/coffee break rules.
My last job, I had a half hour lunch and 2- 15 minute breaks but I often missed my lunches and breaks to attend to "the bad guys", aka shoplifters. LOL

 

[Princess Michelle]

Every job I've had up till now I got 2 15 minute breaks and either 30 or 60 minutes for lunch. At my current job we get 30 minute lunches and no scheduled breaks but we are allowed to do whatever we want to for the most part. The smokers are outside every 10 minutes it seems but if they get their work done nothing is said. I take more potty breaks than anyone in the office so I can't really say anything. I kind of like it better this way but this is the first job I've had where a system like this could work.

 

[preshi]

I work 8-5 get 2 10 minute paid breaks and an hour unpaid lunch. Also can use the restroom, get something to drink, etc. whenever I want

 

[imgoingtodisney]

930-5 four days; fifth day 1230-8
1/2hr unpaid break, (2) 10min breaks which we usually tack on
Smokers smoke on their break, bathroom when we need to