I’m a nurse, my Assistant manager said that I should “suck it up and accept sometimes we won’t get our lunch break” am I correct to think this is inappropriate?
My wife is a nurse and often doesn't get a break. Patient safety over-rides the WTR. However, they should be paid for missed breaks.
Picture a care home with one nurse due to staffing issues. That nurse cannot leave the premises on a break or even at the end of her shift without cover/relief as to do so would be a risk to patient safety, would be considered patient abandonment, and could get them struck off by the RCN.
But, lack of staffing causing missed breaks should be exceptional, and missed breaks must be paid.
This my friend is why I left the hospital and care home work as a nurse. No breaks, low salary for the high level of responsibility you have and shitty senior staff/managers. If you complain that you haven't had a break, they tell you, patient safety first. If you ask them to pay the break you missed, they tell you that you have poor time management. YOU WILL NEVER WIN. 1 mental breakdown and panic attacks during COVID, I'm out.