I’d be interested in hearing from newsagents on what they offer in terms of rest and meal breaks. I am especially interested in rest breaks and how you roster to minimise the interruption in smaller newsagencies. I prefer an approach that’s more relaxed re access to drinks and bathroom breaks than a formal break.
Here’s what the retail award says FYI:
- Less than 4 hours No rest break No meal break
- 4 hours or more but less than 5 hours One 10 minute rest break No meal break
- 5 hours or more but less than 7 hours One 10 minute rest break One meal break 30 – 60 minutes
- 7 hours of more but less than 10 hours Two 10 minute rest breaks, with one taken in the first half of the shift and another taken in the second half of the shift One meal break 30 – 60 minutes
A problem for small newsagents is bathroom breaks. Whilst complying with the ward, we try to minimize the labour cost and sometimes only have one person working by themself. It therefore becomes necessary to drop in to the shop (even though we are not “rostered on”) to provide the staff member with the opportunity to attend to biological needs. A lot easier on busy days when more than one person is working.
We don’t roster morning/afternoon rest breaks, staff grab a break when they want and when it suits, often it’s just order a coffee and back on the counter.
Toilet breaks are taken as required.
Lunch breaks are rostered but these can vary when the shop is busy or iwhen someone has an appointment.
Our full time lady rarely leaves the counter in the mornings, but most afternoons pops out to supermarket for 10 mins or so to get her shopping.
It works well not being too rigid.
I agree with Jenny, we work hard when work is there to be done, we do coffee runs when coffee is desperately needed to get you through the next 2 hours! Toilet breaks are decided by metabolic rates. Lunch breaks are at a set time but can slip 5 minutes or so if circumstances dictate.
My husband is the insists on his breaks. He just seems to have to refuel. I can go until maybe 2pm with just a drink on the run. I make sure everyone else has had breaks and lunch before I take off but then I usually take and 1 1/2 at home with a Nana nap. I make sure staff take the appropriate breaks but no set in concrete time. If they are not given them it might all come back to bite you on the bum when one becomes disgruntled.
As Brett has said it is copy paste here.
Although I like to work on One coffee per hour 😀
I use what you have written, but if the shift is longer than 7 hours and if they start outside of 4 hours before the lunch break or finish out side of 4 hours of the lunch break then I provide a 10 minute break, seldom I need to provide 2 10 minute breaks, due to where I place the lunch break.
If a staff member is rostered for 7.5 hrs, they get a one hour meal break. The 5 hour shift gets a 10 minute tea break. I make sure the front counter person gets relieved appropriately, the back room staff can easily go to the loo and drink coffee at any time, we are very relaxed. There are at least 2 people here at all times, except 5 hrs on Sunday. Only seasoned senior staff get to work Sundays, they know the ropes and the customers, and seem to manage without complaint. We are open for 4 hrs, they get paid 5 hrs, if that isn’t fine with them then they do not have to go on the Sunday roster.
I roster staff for 1/2 days only.
9-2 or 12-5 and when the afternoon staff
come on I have a break for lunch as I am
the only one who works all day.
Here in SA you have to give a meal break
after 5.5 hours so I go the other way and
ensure that no-one does more than this.
Tuesday is the exception as I have a day
off and two girls work all day and give each
other a lunch break.
Coffee/tea breaks Tom always does for either the morning or afternoon staff but
they usually have it at the counter while
they are doing stock or serving.
I never query toilet breaks (my 15 year old
grandson works with me on Sundays and
he has 3-5 toilet breaks in his 5 hour shift.
(I’m getting the message that he might like to be somewhere else but Mum and Dad want him to learn things that you can only learn in a shop – counting money back and handling “issues” and helping customers etc)
It is very amusing (probably only so because he is family)
We’ve always taken a relaxed approach to rest breakes. If someone needs to go to the toilet then they go. Small snacks and drink are allowed while people are working.
Very informal and relaxed approach. First one to start is the first one to lunch, 1/2 hour break each. No set rest breaks but can go to bathroom or get drinks whenever they like through the day, they just have to wait until there is a little break in the customers and let other staff know they are stepping out
Informal and relaxed here, much as you all are. Toilet whenever you need it, half hour lunch for my one full time staff member. I bought the shop its own Nespresso coffee machine so coffee breaks are whenever you need one, just bring it to where you are working while you drink it.
General day when I’m working:
I arrive at 7am. 10 min break at 9:45. Lunch at 1:30 for 1 hr.
Boss arrives at 8am. 10 min break at 9:30. Lunch at 11am for 1 hr. Arvo break (2:45) for 45 mins to prepare banking and next days cash.
Early lunch and a late lunch are in order as we mainly cater for a lunch time being in a food court.
Toilet breaks are taken when needed.
Interesting that not many give the proper breaks.I would make sure my staff were happy with not getting them and make sure I don’t get into trouble when they leave as it is illegal to not give proper breaks.
In saying that I don’t take the breaks but make sure my staff do get what they should.The owner had been spoken to previously for breach of the breaks so we are very careful.
I was only looking at the Wage increase for the first time and min u/16 lvl 1 is now
$307.53 p/w that was a bit more then I would of thought. But I keep doing the sums and it must be right.
Mary, I assume that by “proper break” you mean they must be sent out the back to the tea room to sit for 10 minutes, away from the commerce of the shop? Ditto the lunch hour? If so, then that is what is available to my staff. Plus free tea coffee and hot water urn, use of a toaster, sandwich maker and microwave.
Anything else I should do?
h, food from home for staff, they love it (when you get time to cook).
In return you may find staff cooking cakes for morning tea, just show them what you like in a cooking magazine and remind them that they have more time off than you do.
Brett, that’s only $8.09/hour.
Mary, I would imagine that the majority of small business retailers would not formally roster the rest break, nor keep records of it. It’s such a small amount of time and it doesn’t affect payroll because it’s a paid break.
Our guys are free to take such a break at any suitable time during the shift. For most people it would simply be going to the toilet, having a quick drink and possibly shoveling down a chocolate.