Would you trade your regular breaks for time off later?

Updated: 8:34AM Wednesday November 18, 2009

The Government has introduced a law change that will allow bosses to withhold workers' regular breaks, and instead pay for the time or trade the breaks for time off later.

National's bill allows bosses to replace regular breaks with "compensatory measures".

These include being able to start work late or leave early, or stockpile the missed breaks and trade them for a day off. The bill does not limit the forms of compensatory measures, so employers could pay staff rather than giving breaks.

Would you trade your regular breaks for time off later?  Here is the latest selection of Your Views:

Owen J (Newfield)
Wednesday November 18, 2009 Kiwi law reflects kiwi values and standards, 'fair days work for a fair days pay' minimum wage law reflects the minimum 'fair hourly rate' a worker can expect to be paid for each hour worked, all things being equal.Imagine the aggressive downward wage spiral without this Kiwi law.

The rest breaks law was designed to set a minimum values standard to safeguard vulnerable workers against 'dishonest employers'; which kiwi or immigrant worker under duress is going to RAISE thier voice? This law change favours employers through increased work flexibility but as time passes it will actively undermine another Kiwi value 'family time' ask the transport industry how the log book laws really operate, and the risks that drivers take each day! breaks by name only!

expat and glad (Philippines)
Monday November 16, 2009 Rodney of Howick read the article again, but slower this time. The bill won't give workers the option to choose, it gives employers the right to withhold breaks as they see fit. I agree with rico t, short, regular breaks are necessary to rest the brain. Without these regular breaks NZ will see ACC payments rise.

rico t (Mangere)
Tuesday November 10, 2009 Yes, I believe working through our breaks for the sake of knocking of early is a good idea. However, you will be spending that early time off at the hospital because that is the inevitable outcome of such stupid proposals.

Workplace accidents happen when people loose concentration due to long continuoes hours of work without a break. When you are doing labour intensive work the thought of working through breaks is just out of this world. What is this great nation turning into. You mean to say that we adopt the sweatshop working conditions happening in other countries, where exploitation becomes the norm. What next nz? Slavery, supression of civil liberties, big brother state.

The question is, should the mp's who have abused the tax payers funds re pay the money? off course they should!

Rodney (Howick)
Friday November 6, 2009 What's with so many contributors here? If asked if you would like the option to work through lunch break in order to go home earlier. And the operative is given the personal option. The response seems to be . Heck No . I don't want options . I want to be told what to do. I must dominated by rules.

Can't you see? The idea is to allow the worker the option to spend time with workmates or time at home with the kids. It speaks volumes of those folks who would prefer to be at work rather than home.

Max Silverhammer (Manurewa)
Thursday November 5, 2009 I'm still stumped why the government kowtows to big business so much. Oh wait, it's because big business bribes the government into representing them, bedamned the employees. Let'em eat cake!

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