Why Mike Hosking is right about breaks and how if you're a good worker you don't need to worry.

Big news in New Zealand right now that has Labour voters and the unions up in arms is the legislation the Government has introduced which no longer makes it mandatory for employers to give staff breaks.  Newstalk ZB breakfast host and Seven Sharp co anchor Mike Hosking has written a column in today's edition of the New Zealand Herald about the legislation.  The premise of Mike Hosking's blog is that if you're a hard worker and enjoy what you do you will not need to worry.

Let's be realistic too please.  Only a real rogue employer without any decency about them is going to stop you from getting a coffee, going to the toilet or something else during the work day.  The majority of employers aren't going to care if you take a short break so long as you get the work done and do not slack off.  Plus we have to take into consideration un allocated breaks.  You may have an hour's worth of official breaks during an eight hour day, but in reality there will be unallocated breaks too - going to the bathroom, getting a cup of coffee or water if you work in an office.  Some people would do this at a random time during the day and some people could do this before work.  The point is that people take heaps of undesignated breaks and employers who deny you basic rights to get water, coffee or go to the bathroom would be denying you your human rights.

if you don't trust your employer to give you your basic rights then maybe you have a bad employer and should look around elsewhere.

Another point to take into consideration is that hard workers and some people in general don't want to take their breaks.  This could be the case for office workers or retail and media workers.  Because there is a lot of downtime and the work is relatively simple you don't really need breaks.  The last job I had in Auckland before I moved back to Sydney was excellent.  I hated when I was forced to take breaks by one of the managers because I was so into the work and figured that because I was enjoying it I didn't need a break.  Then there is the other aspect that some people like to delay their break to the make the afternoon go shorter but eventually it becomes so late in the afternoon/evening or shift in general that there's no point in taking your break.

Hosking raised the very good point that if you enjoy what you do you don't want to take breaks and if you live for your breaks then there is something wrong.

And shouldn't the market be trusted to be reasonable?  A rogue employer who would deny you a break during your shift without legislation is probably the type of employer who wouldn't give you your break anyway or who would expect you to work overtime without pay (which is acceptable if you're on a salary, but not if you're on a wage - you should be paid for time worked).  Just as those who work independently without supervision should be trusted to do the ri