teachers right to breaks in Italy
Posted: 04 May 2012, 19:07
Dear Lucy, I hope you can help me! I require breaks during my teaching day. I am expected to work 5 hours with out a break. My boss insists I am not entitled to a break. I am in Southern Italy in a private school & have fought to get a break. I am a qualified TEFL teacher with 8 years experience and this is the 1st time I've been forced to fight for a break. I need to use the loo or have a coffee to keep up my energy. The custom maybe not to take a break but the law requires that you get 10 mins every 2 hours. Please let me know asap- I need the information urgently... Thank you-
ps it is very stressful and I feel bullied & harassed. We have had a few rows over this and I am really at the end of my tether. I had a coffee as I taught, and occasionally a little square of chocolate for energy- she is claiming 2 students left because they saw eat chocolate- I reply 'well if you won't give me a break then I have to have a drink in view of students and the occasional bite. The toilet is awful, no loo paper, there is no water - no kitchen etc. I went along with it until it started to make me feel ill.
pps never again will I accept a 5 hour shift without a break- at least I learned that much.
ppps beware of small schools
ps it is very stressful and I feel bullied & harassed. We have had a few rows over this and I am really at the end of my tether. I had a coffee as I taught, and occasionally a little square of chocolate for energy- she is claiming 2 students left because they saw eat chocolate- I reply 'well if you won't give me a break then I have to have a drink in view of students and the occasional bite. The toilet is awful, no loo paper, there is no water - no kitchen etc. I went along with it until it started to make me feel ill.
pps never again will I accept a 5 hour shift without a break- at least I learned that much.
ppps beware of small schools