For decades, paid rest breaks were a staple for many shift workers, but BP is the latest major employer to abolish them for its forecourt staff. Starting in February, 5,400 employees working at company-owned locations will no longer be paid for their 20 or 30-minute rest periods. This policy shift is being introduced alongside a wage increase, but employees claim the loss of paid time cancels out the benefits of the pay rise.
The logistics of the change mean that a worker on an eight-hour shift will now be unpaid for their 30-minute lunch. Previously, this time was covered by the company. When combined with a reduction in premium pay for working bank holidays, the total compensation package is significantly altered. This comes despite BP’s massive global revenues, leading some to question the necessity of pinching pennies from frontline retail staff.
BP defends the move as a standardization exercise. They point out that they are increasing the base pay to £13.45 an hour, a rate that is competitive within the industry. By aligning their benefit structure with competitors—most of whom stopped paying for breaks years ago—BP argues they are ensuring the long-term sustainability of their retail operations. They also emphasized that the pay rise is being introduced two months early to assist staff.
However, the “break-even” nature of the deal has been exposed by simple calculations. Reports indicate that the net gain for a full shift could be as little as a few pence. This has led to accusations of “penny-pinching” at the expense of low-paid workers who are often on their feet for long hours serving customers and managing forecourt safety.
The removal of paid breaks is a significant psychological blow as well as a financial one. It changes the nature of the workday, turning a rest period into “off the clock” time. As the cost of living remains high, the removal of these small but significant financial cushions is likely to impact morale across the network of 310 stations affected by the change.