Workplaces cautious about new policy on breaks

Most workplaces seem ill-prepared to accommodate the new law change which would allow managers to withhold workers' regular breaks and offer to pay for their time or trade for time off later.

nzherald.co.nz contacted 50 major New Zealand listed companies and asked them about their workplace breaks policies.

Most organisations were reluctant to comment at all.

The bill raises a number of questions for the employees such as, "Will they be able to negotiate breaks and for how long?", and "Will their employer continue to supply coffee, tea and milk?"

Employees could also face new policies regulating and recording toilet use.

Foodstuffs Auckland, who has New World and Pak'n'Save under their umbrella, insist they don't have a toilet policy. However, the HR Manager added that it was possible they did have one in the warehouse where the supervisors monitor the workers.

In the future mothers returning to the workforce may not be able to expect designated areas for breast-feeding. Telecom's Human Resources Manager informed nzherald.co.nz that they do have breastfeeding areas but they may not be up to adequate standards. Contact Energy had no designated area for breast-feeding at all.

Of the businesses that were available to comment, all assured that they would continue to provide tea and coffee - and Contact Energy boasted a top of the range latte machine.

The only place where breaks were strongly monitored was Telecom where the new bill, which allows flexibility to trade breaks for time off or pay, seems to be strongly in place already.

For most, it seems time will tell whether this new bill will in fact allow employees more time for "a reasonable opportunity for rest, refreshment and attending to personal matters".