Reasonable coffee breaks

[Chan12]

I am a new employer and have recently hired my first employee. He works 5 hours a day 12-5, with a 15min break midway.

Is it reasonable to ask someone not to stop and make coffee outside of the specified break period. He stops and boils kettle, makes coffee etc, and then takes it back to his work station to sip whilst working. It kind of niggles me, because it obviously takes up time I am paying for and he does have 15mins break during the 5 hours, at which time he can have coffee etc

Am I being unreasonable if I were to request him to make coffee only during his breaks, or is this normal to expect someone to wait for their break for a coffee?

 

[DomainsRegistrar]

To be honest you are within your rights to only allow coffee making at break time but is it really that much of an issue, are results being made?
I think if you make allowances then you will in turn have the gesture reciprocated when you need them to stay an extra 30 mins etc.
However if it is blatant time wasting and is just looking to not work then find someone who is committed.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

I guess really it depends on what he is doing.

If he's on the phone dealing with customers, personally I see no issue with taking a coffee break at intervals, have you tried going 5 hours without a drink, while constantly on the blower... you don't half get dry.

It is also dependent on his age, by law if he's under 18 years of age he is entitled to 30 minutes if he's working more than 4.5 hours. Now, I'm not actually sure if this would fall under that ruling, because obviously if he has a 30 minute break, he's technically only working 4.5 hours... :|

Are his coffee breaks meaning that he's not performing well?

Does he make you a coffee at the same time? If not, why not?

 

[tacticalsales]

To gain the maximum amount of use out of your brain you need to have breaks every 2 hours.

"Most healthy teenagers and adults are unable to sustain attention on one thing for more than about 40 minutes at a time" via Wikipedia.

Breaks should be taken every 2 hours if computer work and generally just to clear the mind and get concentration back on flow.

You can ask to limit the amount of breaks etc but at the end of the day having coffee, tea etc is what makes people comfortable at the company. Instead set expectations and goals/targets with an incentive at the end.

Watch the breaks get shorter and disappear.

 

[Deleted member 138423]

I am a new employer and have recently hired my first employee. He works 5 hours a day 12-5, with a 15min break midway.

Is it reasonable to ask someone not to stop and make coffee outside of the specified break period. He stops and boils kettle, makes coffee etc, and then takes it back to his work station to sip whilst working. It kind of niggles me, because it obviously takes up time I am paying for and he does have 15mins break during the 5 hours, at which time he can have coffee etc

Am I being unreasonable if I were to request him to make coffee only during his breaks, or is this normal to expect someone to wait for their break for a coffee?

If you have ever worked in a sales environment, sales people rely on their coffe fix about 250 times per day! If this staff member is good and productive, suck it up and leave alone, but if they are using it as an excuse to be away from the work they should be doing, i.e. they are bored etc.., have a word sharpish!

 

[tacticalsales]

If you have ever worked in a sales environment, sales people rely on their coffe fix about 250 times per day! If this staff member is good and productive, suck it up and leave alone, but if they are using it as an excuse to be away from the work they should be doing, i.e. they are bored etc.., have a word sharpish!

Amen to that!

Land of the waking dead up until the first cup of Java is brewed!

 

[Chan12]

The job is production line, although not standing still in one place, it is working with the hands, so drinking coffee stops the flow. He is an adult and as I say there is a coffee break after 2.5 hrs of 15 minutes. He doesnt start till 12 either, so plenty of time before work to have have food and drink.

It is hard to know where to draw the line, I want him to be happy but am trying to make clear boundaries. Today he stopped to make his first coffee just 30 mins into his shift. It niggled me and so I did actually ask him if he could wait for his breaks to have a coffee.

He said ok, but has been very quiet since.

 

[tomp1986]

How about every hour you say what you drinking and make him a coffee that we he can keep working

Just a thought

 

[Deleted member 138423]

The job is production line, although not standing still in one place, it is working with the hands, so drinking coffee stops the flow. He is an adult and as I say there is a coffee break after 2.5 hrs of 15 minutes. He doesnt start till 12 either, so plenty of time before work to have have food and drink.

It is hard to know where to draw the line, I want him to be happy but am trying to make clear boundaries. Today he stopped to make his first coffee just 30 mins into his shift. It niggled me and so I did actually ask him if he could wait for his breaks to have a coffee.

He said ok, but has been very quiet since.

It's very important he's aware of the rules; you must instill ASAP thefact that people do not take coffee breaks until their allotted break time, but he must feel that he's able to do so presently for you to pick this up. So, smile whilst you tell him that the berak time is for coffee and all other times there's not to be coffee near the production line! Just be the Boss

 

[superdooper500]

To be honest, I'd nip this in the bud, but in a more positive way than just giving him a talking to, and him becoming resentful. I'd consider buying him the largest travel mug thing I could find (there is one on Amazon called a 'fatboy' that holds 1.5 pints and costs £6ish) and just ask that he fills this before he starts work, and then again on his break etc.

I'd say something like "I see you're into your coffee, it must be thirsty work, so I got you this 'fatboy mug' to keep you going between your breaks, save you running backwards and forwards to the kettle all the time"

Same result, but probably a happier member of staff as a result!

 

[andygambles]

The lay only requires you to give adults a 20 minute break if they are working more than 6 hours.

Personally I wouldn't make someone work that long without a break. I think you have the balance right with a break halfway through. If you want to enforce the drinks rule then make it company wide and ensure it is known. You don't see supermarket workers carrying a cup around with them.

In factories the general I found was drinks only during breaks as they were operating heavy machinery although breaks were evenly prescribed over a 12 hour shift.

 

[Chan12]

I'd say something like "I see you're into your coffee, it must be thirsty work, so I got you this 'fatboy mug' to keep you going between your breaks"

He is rather a large chap...around 18 stone...not sure how well that would go down

 

[VLAHAKISA]

I've worked in telephone sales. You'd never be productive without a drip of coffee going through your veins every single hour at least

Talking lots does require liquid as you do get a dry throat otherwise, but this does not sound like that sort of role. I do think that as it's working for just 2hrs 15mins either side of a break in a role that cannot be performed 'while drinking coffee' like a desk job can be, he shouldn't be taking up a further 30 minutes of the day 'making coffee' (waiting for it to boil, stirring, chatting etc).

If he's a good worker though, I'd perhaps first assess just exactly whether 'drinking the coffee' is actually denting productivity, and if it isn't making much a difference and it's the making it time that's the issue; I'd make them for him myself, or get an instant coffee machine. Sales offices always have coffee machines, so you can get your drink fast and back to your desk again.

Another important thing to think about: that caffeine might just be making him work faster. He's overweight it seems .. and thus probably does not have a healthy low sugar dietary intake, he might go into a very unproductive sugar crash during that 5 hours if he takes sugar in his drinks to keep his blood sugar levels up to the high levels he is used to and you don't let him have them.

Amanda
Print Design. Web Design. Logo Design.
www.trulyace.com

 

[warnie]

Keep it simple and allow him 2 breaks of 10 minutes each, and to take them whenever he wishes. I don't think 20 minutes out of 5 hours is unreasonable.

 

[tony84]

Im with Warnie.

Ive worked in offices all my life. Some have given me set amounts of break time (RBS for 1 you had to put your phone in a certain state when you went toilet or for a drink, i had 20 minutes but i could take as and when i wanted), all my other jobs ive just been able to take breaks whenever i wanted - so long as the work gets done.

Would you mind if as soon as the click hit 5 he walked out - halfway through a job or not? Or if he turned upto work 10 minutes early and sat watching the clock till 12?
There has to be a bit of give and take, i always tended to get to work 10 minutes early, if im in and settled i will just crack even if ive not strictly started my shift.

 

[Blood Lust]

I am a new employer and have recently hired my first employee. He works 5 hours a day 12-5, with a 15min break midway.

Is it reasonable to ask someone not to stop and make coffee outside of the specified break period. He stops and boils kettle, makes coffee etc, and then takes it back to his work station to sip whilst working. It kind of niggles me, because it obviously takes up time I am paying for and he does have 15mins break during the 5 hours, at which time he can have coffee etc

Am I being unreasonable if I were to request him to make coffee only during his breaks, or is this normal to expect someone to wait for their break for a coffee?

If he is productive then let it go.

 

[Mike_Scott]

Sounds a bit harsh to me to be honest. He is just making a brew and drinking it whilst on the job? 3-4 mins whilst the kettle boils... 3-4 minutes to gather his thoughts and keep being pro-active on his job. Regardless of his weight either - happy employee will be far more productive.

 

[Blood Lust]

Sounds a bit harsh to me to be honest. He is just making a brew and drinking it whilst on the job? 3-4 mins whilst the kettle boils... 3-4 minutes to gather his thoughts and keep being pro-active on his job. Regardless of his weight either - happy employee will be far more productive.

I totally agree with you.

If he's productive not only wouldnt I comment on his brew making I'd reward him to show my appreciation. Buy him his breakfast or treat him to a Costa Coffee once in a while.