I'm not allowed to sit down or talk during my 12 hour shift at the factory I work at

Nev

It doesn't sound very fair or a very nice place to work. You haven't said how many hours you work in a week. As you are in Europe I am assuming that you in the EU? If so the working time directive will cover a lot of the questions you have on this.
The link below is the latest update on the directive.

sarah1962

contact acas as soon as you can, go to there website, hope it all works out for you, also go to your local citizen advice office, all the best

EDWARD W

Say no more....you're not in a civil factory but a prison factory.

ALLEN B

Ask for a seat as the constant standing is giving you back problems, when they refuse go long term sick until they get rid of you, then go for constructive dismissal as you gave them the chance to fix the problem.
You don't have to be a member of a union to ask for assistance from them, but now might be a good time to join!
For Andy S...site one case where anyone in the history of mankind has been found guilty of faking backpain...I rest my case!

Davy Crockett

Dear god! hey should be employing battery hens. Look for another job, - nothing can be as bad as this one.

srracvuee

thats a sweat shop your working in why not pack it in

Under health and safety law you are entitled to rest breaks ,talk to your union rep.
if you have not got one contact the health and safety executive , i am sure they can help

Black Orchid

I cant believe your work conditions it cant have always been like this or you wouldn`t have stuck it out for 15 years .
First thing i would do is phone citizens advice they will tell you what your employer can do and can not do .
They will tell you what your rights are Follow their advice they will help you all they can
I once contacted them when my boss wanted to sack me when i was on the sick after a operation
My boss couldn't sack me so he had to keep my job open for me

Explorer

There is not much that you can do.
If you dont like it, I suggest you start looking for another job.
If it were me, I would

FRANK D

I do not know what the rules are in mainland Europe but this is certainly illegal in the UK.

Frank

DAVID M

Join a Union and then get a Union rep to get down to this workhouse and ORGANISE

keral

very bad position

monkey paws

dude i have a similar condition at my work place. i don't know what to tell you to but geez dont't you think chibijan is hot. ooooooweeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dels replies

I don't think 12 hour shifts are legal under current EU regulations but a big company will know the rules and its lawyers will see it just keeps within the law while maximising its profits.If there is no union to argue your case and local politicians cannot help I would look for another job.If you and other ex workers of this company wanted to make known the conditions and to organise a protest you could do far more from outside the firm than if you still worked there.

Gipper

Sorry, don't know European work ethics, regulations, etc. However, by all means I would look for another job; it is inhumane for anybody to be on their feet that long standing in one spot.

joseph7_28636

Best thing to do is get to work early, and get to know your co workers.Then once youve made a list of names.Get them to come over or meet you somewhere to discuss working conditions.If you ALL stand together then you can get leverage.Otherwise the company will run over you at will. Tell them theres going to be some changes or you are ALL walking! They will tell you go ahead, but when you DO they will chase after you and ask you to work things out.The company makes millions BUT if no one is working they wont be making ANYTHING and not to mention they wont fill orders or be able to pay stock holders.There is NO way they can replace ALL of you or even 80% of you with skilled trained workers who know their product in a days time.Not even a week.It takes weeks sometimes months to do this.This is the ONLY way you will accomplish anything.It would be the start of a union, but this is the ONLY way you will have ANY rights as a human being.

bjornthefellhanded

If you don't like it quit I am sure an illegal would be happy to take your place for half pay and no bennies.

mjsw17

Join a union for goodness sakes.

And why not name the company. You are totally anonymous on here.

Squiddy

Sounds like you work for the GAP warehouse! Sounds punishing to me, check with your local labor board and see if this company is doing wrong-I think they are.

Northern Spriggan

Tell us who they are

Name and Shame!

By the way, just get out of there,

You are no slave to anyone

wonderingstar

you dont work in yorkshire do you ?
I worked in a place like that putting the freebies & samples on magazines, cosmopolitan, vogue etc.
conditions same as yours not allowed to sit down & you were allowed to go toilet only once in an hour.

If you were too slow the supervisers would watch u like hawkes & would stick red sticker on your back.

3 red stickers & you got sent home with no pay.
& people go on about "fair trade" abroad yeah right get it sorted here first.

why dont you just get another job, they aint going to change

Jordan C

Check out your human rights or somthing

get a lawyer first!

coan2007

Andy S

if there wasnt the option of being found out about faking back pain and eventually taking them to court for constructive dismissal and then being sued yourself for fraud id do that, if all else fails move jobs...that or get everyone to join a union and take em out on strike regarding the working conditions

D B

As long as you are being given the legally required breaks where you can sit down the company is perfectly within its rights. By the way i totally agrre with the company about non work related chatting - it really annoys me when i have had colleagues who spend half their time nattering when i am trying to work and don't get me started on shop assistants who think they are there to socialise.

Jeffery C

Quit work, find another job. Did you not know about this when you were hired?

Chibi.Jan-x0

why dont u quit and work somewhrre else?

ladies favourite

oh well

stallworker uk

i have to work 12 hour shifts ometimes standing at a stall alone with no breaks, no food and no toilets, my employer caught me sit down once n went mad n said i cant o that again!, i this allowed? i am 20 and work in the uk

Peeps54

this is where unions came in, about time we stopped looking at the unions as the bad boys and start looking at them to help working conditions, and it aint that easy to just find another job it's not 1970!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: