Convincing My Employer: Are Tea Breaks Really a Waste of Time in Food Processing?

Dear All,

My employer feels that providing tea to workers is a waste of time. How can I convince my employer about this? We are in the food processing industry, so if anyone has knowledge about this practice in the food industry, please let me know.

DM

Namaskar,

Tea break and lunch breaks are provided not only from a worker's welfare point of view but also to boost morale and productivity. It is mandatory, as per different acts and rules, to provide a half-hour rest for continuous three or more hours of work.

If you require any further details, please email me at saxmankeshav@yahoo.co.in.

With regards,
Keshav

Dear Deepa,

I hope you have a canteen in your factory. One lunch break and one tea break are given to workers, and it is mandatory under factory rules. Suppose your company is not agreeing to a tea break, then suggest serving tea at each workman's table.

The workers should not be bound to machines for the whole 8 hours. If a small amount of free interval time is given to them, they will feel relaxed, their morale will be boosted, and it will have a positive impact on their productivity. Try to convince management. If management observes that workmen are wasting time in the canteen or roaming around the factory, then put up a notice on the board and remind them not to waste their valuable time. Also, take a round in the canteen, observe their unnecessary activities, and control them.

Regards,
Bhushan Dahanukar

Deepa, you are right. One of my clients felt the same. Work shift starts at 9:30; however, by the time workers punch cards, the boiler is fired, and people start working, it's 10 pm. The first tea break was scheduled at 11:15. This is where the problem cropped up. After 1 hour of work, nobody wants workers to go on a spree for 30 minutes (though the actual break is 15 minutes).

A solution exists via RFID cards wherein break times/AHT, etc., are easily calculated in BPOs, etc. But the question is how many small companies can afford to recreate the BPO technique.

Surya