Lunch Breaks

[northernladuk]

I think it is more me that is worried about doing the full 40 hours so that I get paid the maximum!

Are you getting paid daily or hourly?

At the end of the day what are they really going to do? Sack you for an arguable hour a week? no way that will happen. The very worst is the permies will just label you a money grabbing work to rule contractor doing the bare minimum and getting big money for it. Lets be honest, I did 10 hour a day at one gig and still got that from some people so nuts to them. You are never gonna get away from that one.

It may affect your chances of an extension of course. If your paid hourly why not offer to lose and hour or so instead of expecting to be paid the max for doing the absolute minimum (and less) for a chance of further work?

[ASB]

20 minutes after 6 hours is the norm.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ff/DG_10029451

Of course you are hardly likely to take your co to an ET if they don't provide it...

[Zippy]

Do an hour or two per week working from home to make up any shortfall.

[VectraMan]

My last client had a policy of all contractors taking an hour for lunch, because otherwise the permies might get the idea they were entitled to work lunch and go home early too.

Usually when I hear anything like that my approach is to just ignore it and adopt the "I assume it didn't apply to me" defence if ever asked (which you never will be), but on this occasion I decided to play nice as I needed the gig and didn't want to give them any excuses.

But that's the only time I've ever had any comment about hours. As always, if they're happy with your work, and you're around when you need to be for meetings or whatever, nobody is going to care about this sort of thing. It only comes into play if they're looking for excuses to get rid of you.

[FarmerPalmer]

I tried not taking a lunch but current client didn't like it and refused to sign timeshet unless I put in 30 min break (even if I hadn't taken it) for health & safety.

though I'm sure its got nothing to do with health & safety - but hey ho.

So now I DO take a 30 minute break.

[BolshieBastard]

Some clients insist you take a break because they see you as 'their' employee albeit temporary.

some clients dont mind if you work all day without a break.

Just depends but if the client insists, you have to fall in line.