Half hour breaks in the workplace for 4 hours work

Question

i work as a carer for 4 hours each day. the lady that i care for has a partner who deals with all her affairs. he is demanding that i take an half hour break in addition to my 4 hours daily. i have told him that i don't require a break as you only have to take a 20 minute break if you work 6 hours or more a day. he becomes very aggressive and shouts and swears if i disagree, thus upsetting the lady i care for and myself. who do i go to for help in this situation.i have never signed any contract and have been employed here for a year. he also asks me to run to the shop for him, make him meals , iron clothes for him and change his bed. i am employed for the lady only. what can i do? help

Answer 1

unless an employer is denying you your OSHA regulated breaks or working you less than 3 hours, he can have you work however long at a time he wants as he wants between breaks

Answer 2

If this is upsetting the woman you care for, ask the man nicely to talk outside.  There you can tell him you don't work for him, but you work for her, so you will not be doing any of HIS chores for him.  Also, maybe you two can try to compromise on a break.  I see this as the lesser of the two evils, so maybe you might want to give in a little.  I think the half hour is too much for a 4 hour shift, but maybe take a 15 or 20 minute break just to keep him quiet.   Do you work for a service?  If you do, tell your boss what's going on.  They are the ones who should talk to this gentleman, or maybe they can send someone with you for moral support.  If you are working directly for the woman, then you have every right to stand your ground, but just try to keep it AWAY from her since her boyfriend won't.  Does she have any family that you can discuss your concerns to?  You might want to do that.  I don't think there's anything legally you can do, but just try to work this out yourself.  If this gets to be too much, then you should probably look for another job.  Just be careful though.  If he gets that upset over a break, then who knows what could happen.

Answer 3

It is middle ground. If you work for more than four hours a day you get a 30 minute break. So no you don't. But you should have a 5 minute break per one hour of work.