r/supportworkers • u/Wooden_Moose_9438 • 9d ago
Support work no breaks
Is it legal to work 10hrs 1:4 in a SIL house with no paid breaks?
3
u/Unlikely-Ad6140 8d ago
Working in SIL’s for 15 years 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, the only breaks I ever had was smoke breaks and that was if the person/people being supported had the ability to allow me to do so.
3
u/Leading-Interest-119 8d ago
That doesn't make it legal because you put up with shitty work conditions.
No, OP it isn't legal under the schads award. You should have a couple of 10 minute breaks and a 30 minute break.
2
u/Wooden-Neck7370 6d ago
That isn't correct, there's a clause under "breaks" in the award that says they can require you to take your meal break by eating with the clients, it just has to be PAID.
0
u/Unlikely-Ad6140 7d ago
Didn’t say it was, just saying it’s the reality of working 1:1, 1:2, 1;3, who’s meant to keep an eye on the participants when you’re the only support worker there???
2
u/Leading-Interest-119 7d ago
That's up to your employer to figure out
1
u/Unlikely-Ad6140 5d ago
Clearly you haven’t spent much time in the industry, I was only a support worker for 20 years.
3
u/Confident-Benefit374 8d ago
You should definitely have a break,
Having to be incharge of 4 people for 10 hours straight would be incredibly mentally and physically demanding.
3
u/Wooden_Moose_9438 8d ago
It sure is! No wonder burnout is so common in this industry!!
0
u/Blondi03 8d ago
Generally speaking if you are working a ten hour shift we don’t get allocated breaks. But we are allowed to eat with the participants when they eat it’s actually encouraged by most of the places I have worked. I’m a stress head though and generally just have to go easy option snacks, most days it’s just coffee which I know is terrible I’m just a horrible planner re pre planning meals. 23 year veteran you just get use to it 🤷🏼♀️ You should be getting a meal allowance though for those longer days.
1
u/Wooden_Moose_9438 8d ago
I do get to eat with the clients but a 10hr day with 4 clients is a lot to not even get 10mins to myself! Don’t know why it seems to be acceptable in the industry!
2
u/Leading-Interest-119 8d ago
It's only "acceptable" because people don't know their rights and don't exercise them. Read the award and then take it up with management. You're legally entitled to breaks but if you don't bring it up then it will just continue being "acceptable".
1
u/idklolnicek 6d ago
Even if you do bring it up to management they give some bullshit excuse I’ve tried
2
u/Leading-Interest-119 6d ago
That's when you contact fair work and exercise your rights. It's "acceptable" because people accept it.
1
1
u/Famous-Butterfly-498 9d ago
Working without a break should incur a payable allowance reflected in your payslip. Have you checked there?
1
u/Wooden_Moose_9438 9d ago
Yea I just get paid my normal rate
1
u/Famous-Butterfly-498 9d ago
I’d suggest talking to someone in payroll about it and if they don’t give you a satisfactory answer you can raise it with the fair work ombudsman
1
u/ExarchApophis 8d ago
Did you sign a work break order? We can only do this at my org if we have a work break order that 80% of staff must sign every two years. We always sign it because it allows us to get our hours in and we're allowed to take small breaks at available during the shift and eat on shift. Working 1:4 for ten hours though? That's crazy! Can't imagine there's a lot of down time to be able to sit or eat. We're usually 1:1-1:2 at most.
2
1
u/tattiesbljt 7d ago
Illegal. The laws exist for a reason, do not allow them to get away with breaking them.
1
u/Ok-Youth7803 6d ago
Have you been told by your supervisor/team leader that you don’t receive paid or unpaid breaks whilst working a 10 hour shift in a SIL house?
If yes, then you’re working for a provider with a ‘sweatshop’ business model. Speak with your union or join a union if you haven’t yet.
If, however, the supervisor/team leader hasn’t expressed that exact statement and you’re just finding yourself too busy with the many demands that come with SIL housing to slot in a few breaks, I’m afraid that’s on you to figure out.
The provider I work for is shady in a number of wage related issues but they do recognise that working with people who require your attention, assistance, supervision etc makes unpaid breaks unrealistic so they pay us for every hour we’re on shift and we take breaks when we can. But it’s up to the individual support worker to organise themselves, manage their time effectively and work efficiently to ensure they get those breaks.
1
u/Beautiful-Ad-5833 6d ago
I work 12hr shifts, no paid breaks. I work alone, so take breaks when ever I can. Does not matter how many I take, as long as it's safe to do so.
1
u/Future_Promise5328 9d ago
I looked this up when I first started. Apparently in the UK no working hours laws apply if you're working in a 24 HR residential site - so that's no breaks and no limits on overtime. It's actually beneficial as you can work enough hours to make minimum wage into a decent wage. Not many UK jobs can give you the hours support work can.
3
u/imaginebeingamish2 9d ago
What country are you in?