Exploitation and no lunch hour.

A question about : Exploitation and no lunch hour.

So I did my first day on the job without pay - voluntary for about 4 weeks. But, the boss is a slave-driver for sure and doesn't allow his staff a lunch hour. The women who work there are allowed to stand at the till drinking a cup of tea and eating a piece of toast. But only once. I cannot cope with their 'banter' and sexual innuendo.

Me? I need a meal. I need to sit down to a meal. I'm not on the till, but I'm doing all the graft like bringing in the delivery, moving metal shelves and stuff. Hard work and certainly not worth minimum wage in my opinion. The women might not need to eat, but I do. I need to keep my energy levels up, especially if I intend to go to the gym afterwards.

I just feel that I'm being exploited.

Should I really be working for a company which doesn't respect its staff?

Best answers:

• work programme? Report the company and the provider of the Work Programme as they are allowing this to happen
• Sounds like you need to man up and grow some balls.
  you're the new person and the women who work there are having a laugh with you but you're pulling your face.
  Are you working enough hours to get a lunch break - not that you'd get an hour
• No, you don't necessarily need a sit-down meal. Most of the high-level athletes I know (some of whom are international level) don't make a fuss about lunchtime eating - if the option to cook a meal isn't there, they will top up on pasta/protein shakes/ etc.
  You either want the job or not... most people I know in work rarely have a lunch-hour away from their desks, sat down eating a meal!
• And at the risk of starting another 10 page thread, remember that unwanted sexual banter and innuendo in the workplace constitute sexual harassment, and that workers are entitled to a 20 minute break if they are working a shift over 6 hours long.
  I'm not saying you should raise complaints about either or both on your first day, but you should at least know your rights.
• If you are doing 5 hours then you are not legally entitled to a break at all, sorry. Do you need to eat for a medical reason (diabetes for example)?