Do you take needed breaks?

[3rd_shift]

I have noticed that some security posts make it very hard to take a lunch break.
This is especially true for patrol officers.
The sheer number of wrecked company vehicles is pretty good testimony to the fatigue and malnutrition that goes with the job for patrol officers. :eek:
This is why I turned down an offer to work in the patrol division at the company I work for. :p

BTW, I do take lunch breaks and a few times told a superior officer what to do with himself when I was told not to. :rolleyes:
Insubordinate, or just protecting my ability to do a good job without screwing up.
You be the judge. :)

[bumpus]

Having just started a security job, I'll chime in. The company I'm working for has no built in 15 minute breaks. We get one 30 minute lunch break, and if we're needed, we have to drop what we're doing. So I can understand what you're saying. And 3rd, are you saying they're telling you that you can't take a lunch break at all?

[N. A. Corbier]

All of the companies I have worked for had what was considered "working lunches," as the client is not paying for time the company is not protecting them, and the company is not paying for time you aren't protecting the client.

What this usually meant was you had 8-12 hours to eat. Make a patrol, make sure part of your patrol was the cafeteria, and eat something. Static posts meant you could eat in the guard house, etc.

I've never seen a company give a traditional break/lunch schedule, where you are off the clock and unaccountable to the client. Partially because the company would require to post a replacement for your lunch period(s).

[1stWatch]

I am a patrol officer in the same city as you and I can absolutely relate. I hardly ever get to sit down and eat, period, because of driving through the lunch break to get the entire zone done. The usual routine is "drive and eat" on the weekends. I do get to sit down for 30 minutes on the weekdays. It also depends on what company you work for and what kind of workload they pile on you.
A lot of patrol wrecks happen, but those are usually attributable to drunk drivers and those morons who race hondas on the freeways - hit from behind. At least the company I work for now drives crown victorias instead of little mini pickup trucks like one previous one where I worked as a lieutenant. Those wrecks were severe - my god they were severe. However, patrol normally elicits less sleepiness than having a post where you have to roll around in the car at 5 mph. Those guys have had waaay many more wrecks than patrol.
In short though, to answer the topic of your post, usually no.

[SeanCO]

Sure I get a meal break after getting a burger from the drive thru and driving to my next patrol assignment. :) In other words I am in the same boat as the other patrol guys, but I like the fact my view changes every 30-45 mins.

[3rd_shift]

Hey 1stWatch, I work for Smith Protective of Dallas.
Small pickups?
That's what we have except for in the Village apartments where it's Merurys and Queen Victorias. :)
I agree totally, that it's the slow speed vehicle patrol posts that are quite sleepy to do. ;)

[N. A. Corbier]

Whoever's bright idea it was to use pickup trucks should take a look at the accident profiles. Driving a newer Crown Vic is bad enough, being rear-ended can make the unit explode if you've got a bunch of equipment in the trunk. But to have almost no body weight, and then just an easily perforated box... Not to mention that most of the trucks can't take the equipment put into them...

Crown Victoria, Caprice Classic (While they last), Chevy Tahoe. Police package if I can find em in good condition. I want the things to last more than a year, and being on the road alot, constantly idling, powering lights and laptops and heaters and whatnot... Yeah.

That, and lets face it. If your given a beater truck, your not going to feel that good about driving it around. You won't care so much if your coffee spills all over the interior - its already crap.

[1stWatch]

Hey 1stWatch, I work for Smith Protective of Dallas.
Small pickups?
That's what we have except for in the Village apartments where it's Merurys and Queen Victorias. :)
I agree totally, that it's the slow speed vehicle patrol posts that are quite sleepy to do. ;)

Yes that's who I used to work for. You were wise to turn down the patrol position. They not only can, but will find a way to make you crack if you work for them.

[1stWatch]

Whoever's bright idea it was to use pickup trucks should take a look at the accident profiles. Driving a newer Crown Vic is bad enough, being rear-ended can make the unit explode if you've got a bunch of equipment in the trunk. But to have almost no body weight, and then just an easily perforated box... Not to mention that most of the trucks can't take the equipment put into them...

Crown Victoria, Caprice Classic (While they last), Chevy Tahoe. Police package if I can find em in good condition. I want the things to last more than a year, and being on the road alot, constantly idling, powering lights and laptops and heaters and whatnot... Yeah.

That, and lets face it. If your given a beater truck, your not going to feel that good about driving it around. You won't care so much if your coffee spills all over the interior - its already crap.

The particular companies who use these want you to feel like crap anyway. Anything good is too good for you in their opinions. People have been seriously hurt or killed while driving these and they don't care. They also don't want you to have that technological equipment, especially the laptop. I have seen nasty things happen with insurance fraud from these companies too. Get in a fender bender and they'll charge you $100 out of your check to make you pay their insurance deductible, then get a settlement, pocket the money, not fix the truck, and make you drive it like that. Illegal, yes, but it happens all the time.

[Mr. Security]

Finding time to eat isn't a problem where I work unless you have the day shift. It's so busy that you end up eating a bite at a time hoping that the phone won't ring or a visitor won't arrive just when your mouth is full of food. Tough to look professional when people see you eating. The same is true when nature calls. :eek:

[bumpo]

Break? Whats that?

I usualy find time in the morning, when all of the kiddy finaly stop partying. I alwayes eat a big meal, before work. Snacks that fit in my pocket or work bag usualy keep hunger pains away.

[EMTGuard]

We don't get breaks but since I work nights it's almost always slow enough that I have no trouble taking care of dinner or potty breaks.

[FederalSecurity]

Like N.A. said, for those companies that do not allow official lunch breaks,

it's best just to stop someplace quick while on patrol. In my position, the

upper management discourages stopping for anything but refueling on patrol,

but I mostly disregard what they say because they're not the ones who have

mandatory 13 hour shifts without any breaks whatsoever.

[Jackhole]

I'm in the same boat as the rest of most of you, grab a meal when you can. It's rarely a problem, especially now in the summer when the campus is mostly empty of students.

I got into a discussion with my supervisor a few months back about our official policy on meal breaks. Apparently, it's a 20-minute "working lunch" where you can be called off if needed. Interesting, since the State of New York states that if I work an 8-hour shift, I am entitled to 2 15-minute paid breaks (where I can't be called off for work) and a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

Of course, I'll never say anything to anyone at work about it, since I'd rather have a 20-minute paid lunch than a 30-minute unpaid one. 80 hour checks > 75 hour checks.

[HotelSecurity]

Working alone & having to respond to fire alarms, medical emergencies etc I don't get a set meal break. However having worked the same shift for many many years I have come to know the times of day when most of the guests are out of the hotel. That's the time to eat. Oh, & we do get a meal from the hotel restaurant for "free". (It's a taxable benefit).

[N. A. Corbier]

I'm in the same boat as the rest of most of you, grab a meal when you can. It's rarely a problem, especially now in the summer when the campus is mostly empty of students.

I got into a discussion with my supervisor a few months back about our official policy on meal breaks. Apparently, it's a 20-minute "working lunch" where you can be called off if needed. Interesting, since the State of New York states that if I work an 8-hour shift, I am entitled to 2 15-minute paid breaks (where I can't be called off for work) and a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

Of course, I'll never say anything to anyone at work about it, since I'd rather have a 20-minute paid lunch than a 30-minute unpaid one. 80 hour checks > 75 hour checks.

Someone did say something about it in Florida, same rule. Because of the "nature of the work," you are required to be available at all times during the shift. Unless you are properly relieved for that 30 minute lunch break, you can't take it lawfully (dereliction of duty.) Also, that would mean your shifts are 8.5 hours long. The lunch break cannot be deducted from your total working time.

[Lawson]

I have only worked one site, which was the State Capitol Building where you would come in in the morning and dependant upon which section of the building you were scheduled in that day, there was a list of lunch break times. As you came in in the morning you would sign up for which breaks and lunch times you wanted.

[Jackhole]

Someone did say something about it in Florida, same rule. Because of the "nature of the work," you are required to be available at all times during the shift. Unless you are properly relieved for that 30 minute lunch break, you can't take it lawfully (dereliction of duty.) Also, that would mean your shifts are 8.5 hours long. The lunch break cannot be deducted from your total working time.
My supervisor brought up a similar caveat, stating that security officers did not count towards that rule. I silently disagreed with him, but I can see that falling under some sort of deriliction clause.

It's a moot point anyway, I'm more than happy with my meal and break periods.

[GCMC Security]

When I started this company I actually had to sign a paper saying that I understood I would not be given "traditional breaks"

[dla4122]

My officers get 1 fifteen minute break during an 8 hr shift, thats it. Thats just the nature of the game. Other than that they are either stuck in a housing unit or on the recreation yards.

[aka Bull]

At the hospital we use to work an 8 hour shift with a paid 30 min meal break, but you were subject to being called out of your meal.

About a year and a half ago we went to an 8.5 hour shift with a protected 30 min meal break (unpaid). Our contract officers fall under the same rules.

[Jackhole]

At the hospital we use to work an 8 hour shift with a paid 30 min meal break, but you were subject to being called out of your meal.

About a year and a half ago we went to an 8.5 hour shift with a protected 30 min meal break (unpaid). Our contract officers fall under the same rules.
What prompted the change?

[aka Bull]

What prompted the change?

We had two officers (both of whom left within a couple of months of the change) complain to HR that they were stressed caused they could have a guaranteed 30 minute meal break every day.

The rest of us never even got asked what we felt.

[Jackhole]

We had two officers (both of whom left within a couple of months of the change) complain to HR that they were stressed caused they could have a guaranteed 30 minute meal break every day.

The rest of us never even got asked what we felt.
What a bunch of bull****.

Can I ask what type of place you work at? Sounds just like where I work, all the whiners get their way.

[OccamsRazor]

Yeah, we get two 15's and a 30 per 8-hour shift, an extra 30 for 10's and 12's. I take them whenever offered. Union contract states that because you're technically "on-call" during said breaks (defined as being unable to turn off the rover and take a nap), you get paid for that time, on top of the hourly pay.

Thus, an 8 hour shift gets you 8 hours of pay, plus an extra hour (15+15+30) at the same hourly wage.

Personal rule #1- Never stand when you can sit.

etc.

[Mall Director]

Definately true.. I give all my people breaks, and a lot of them.. Our Corp and regs say two 15 mins, and one 30 minute lunch..

If its dead, and all is well, stop in at the 10-19 for a while, relax, play with some papers, eat some snacks, and chill. Some days my people get anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Some say its wrong as they get paid.. but these people that I have know when its a good time and a bad time. And when the heat turns up, they run hard all shift long.

I personnaly believed that if you get out there and give 150% and keep things straight when its a disaster, then you are entitled some down time, because unlike other industries, you cant count on when its gonna get hot again, and by then you wont have time to take a "break"!

[aka Bull]

What a bunch of bull****.

Can I ask what type of place you work at? Sounds just like where I work, all the whiners get their way.

A public hospital owned by the city, but run as a non-profit. The hospital hasn't taken a dime in tax money since about 1976.

[HotelSecurity]

Meals
After a period of work of five consecutive hours, the employee is entitled to a 30-minute rest period (without pay) for meals. If he is not authorized to leave his work station, this period shall be remunerated.

Again Quebec has a law on the subject. This time I found an English version :D