breaks and lunches at work

[litto-miss-loz]

Hey all,

just wondered how you all get treated when it comes to breaks and lunches at work. do u get them when u need it or does it depend on the manager?

ta.

 

[janine19]

Its very hard for me to take breaks as I have patients bookned in continuously through day. I have half hour lunch at 1pm. I work 8-4. I usually try and block a half hour slot in morn to catch up on notes where I can grab a drink i I need to. When I first went back to work I found it really hard but now im used to it and seem to have got my breakfast novorapd about right to keep me at a good level til dinner. My manager and people I work with are really good now they have a better understanding of what diabetes is and I have found they are very supportive and caring. If I feel funny they know where my testin kit is and where I keep my snacks.

 

[Steff]

I got mine when i needed them even 1 day my boss took me home because i had forgotten my little carry case with my finger pricker. She was always of the opinion you have your break when you need it i want my staff well , hense to say im off at the moment mind you 😡.
Reckon it depends on the boss you get some really nice understanding bosees but on the other hand you get some not so understanding x

 

[allisonb]

Hi there. My employers are more than happy for me to have a break for a snack and my lunch any time I need to. I've even been known to leave meetings to go and get some lucozade and nobody has ever complained. I do work in the NHS though so you'd expect some kind of understanding!

Any boss that isn't as tolerant is probably because they don't understand diabetes and lets face it, I don't think that many non diabetics actually do!

 

[sofaraway]

I don't get my breaks at a regular time, but nobody does. I can't just go when I want it has to fit in with everyone else and also my workload. My collleagues are however usually quite considerate and allow me to go first if it's a busy shift and we are getting close to the end and we haven't had chance to start breaks. I have very few hypos so don't need to go off and treat/snack very often.

 

[randomange]

I work in a lab and we pretty much work to our own schedule and can take breaks whenever we want, which is really good. Also, when I started, I got a phone call from occupational health just to confirm that I was diabetic, and they said that there would be a note in my file to say that I had to take regular breaks. 🙂

 

[carolyn]

When I had a boss he always said that I had to take my turn at lunch breaks and tea breaks with the other managers. When I felt unwell he never believed me and one day I colapsed on the floor he got 2 men to pick me up and help me (they were first aiders) I never had a problem after that. He ignored me cuz he didn't understand what diabetes is all about. Luckily I am self employed and work at my hotel so problem solved.

LETS GET BOSSES EDUCATED.
________
MOTORCYCLE TIRES

 

[Lizzie]

I work in a library. It can be awkward sometimes as we can't really tell library users off for eating and drinking if I am doing the same thing. I try to go into the office if I have a hypo or be discreet if I have to stay on the desk. I have to take breaks and lunch at certain times due to the rota, but this is good since I prefer to have a regular routine. If I needed an extra break I would be able to take it.

 

[Corrine]

I am lucky in that I work for a firm of occupational psychologists and consequently everyone is really politically correct and people will bend over backwards to help you. One of my colleagues is type 1 (which I knew long before I was diagnosed) and we are all aware of it and what to do should there be a problem. Not that there ever has been mind you!

 

[Anthony Neve]

I just get up tak emy kit with me to the canteen and do what i need to do. if im feeling hypo and know a couple of jelly babies and rich tea will do it, i just open me desk drawing and start eating. nobody has a problem with me doing it, and id soon put them straight if they did!

 

[grovesy]

I cant always get my breaks on time.
Though i try my hardest to get them.

 

[Sugarbum]

OMG this is a hiddeous subject for me and to be honest, really a huge stress for me. I work with different people each day and some completely neglect the fact I may need to break or at least take a scheduled break, and others go OVERBOARD! There has been an email campiagn about me to senior staff to get me cover etc and I feel over compensated for, isolated, highlighted as the different person (whereas actually I work in a stressfull environment and everyone could do with a break, their human right- not just my privelidge as someone with diabetes) and its smothering. God knows the best way to handle it! I have tried on many occassions to manage it but dont reslove anything perminantly.

Little miss Loz, do you ask because you are having a problem in this area?

 

[Caroline Wilson]

Legally you are not supposed to work for more than four hours without a break. I know many people have to fit in with what others are doing, so the best way round it is to speak to your manager and the rest of the team and try to work out a compromise.

Having worked in the reading rooms of a major reference library I understand the problem of not being allowed to eat or drink in view of the readers. This is where a bag of sugary sweets comes in handy.

Where I work I can take my breaks when I please, although if I go to areas where not many people work I have to tell my manager where I am going and how long I expect to be. If I'm going to be longer or then decide I need to go to another place I have to confirm my movements with my manager by phone.

 

[hermit104]

Legally you are not supposed to work for more than four hours without a break.

Nope. It is six hours under the Working Time Regulations after which you are entitled to a 20 minute unpaid break.

Rona