Woolworths accused of 'controlling' tactic after introducing new rule in stores
Woolworths has defended its reasoning for introducing the new rule for staff.
A worker has slammed Woolworths for introducing a new rule for staff breaks, calling it out as a "controlling" move which doesn't benefit staff despite claiming to.
A notice explaining that staff will be required to clock on and off for breaks from July 8 onwards was recently put up for staff in a store in South Australia, meaning the duration of breaks will now be logged to the second. The flyer says the change is to 'ensure all team members are taking their entitled breaks' and to 'increase pay confidence', with the clocking system also used as a tool to help with staff rostering.
However, the anonymous worker branded it "micromanaging bulls**t" — and the union that represents supermarket workers echoes this view.
"Just more controlling disguised as giving a f**k, if they cared about over worked employees missing breaks they'd have an adequate level of staff on at all time," they wrote on social media.
The worker called it "malicious" and claims the new change has flaws in it, asking "what's stopping overworked employees just fudging their breaks?"
Workers divided over clocking for breaks
After sharing the flyer online, some workers confirmed this has already been implemented in their stores, while others haven't heard a "peep" about it despite knowing it's coming.
Yahoo News understands clocking for staff breaks is live nationwide across Woolworths Metro and Big W stores, however the rule has been newly implemented this week in 10 supermarket stores, with more to come.
Online many people were divided on the system, with some welcoming it as others raged.
"'To provide increased pay confidence', i.e. to ensure they are getting the bang for their buck," one wrote, while others criticised the idea of being treated like a "child". "I love the spin that is for OUR benefit," another wrote.
However, many were hopeful this will help them get "fully enforced, full length breaks".
"This means that they will have data on people not taking breaks. They can't pretend it's not happening. Could be a really good thing for workers," one wrote, while another echoed the sentiment. "I welcome this, means we will get the full allocated break not partial breaks, and if it is partial the timesheet will show it."
Union calls out 'pernicious' strategy to squeeze more out of staff
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) is against the move, believing it will benefit the supermarket if staff feel like they are constantly being observed and are under "pressure".
"When a worker is fearful about their employer knowing the second that they go on break, or come back from break, they end up taking shorter breaks so 30 minutes end up being 28," RAFFWU's secretary Josh Cullinan told Yahoo News. "They're not going to get those two or three or four minutes paid, they end up working more. It might not sound like much but that money adds up over 125,000 workers."
"And if they have repeated 31 minute breaks, they will be called in to a meeting. It's that pernicious... this is about workers having shorter breaks," he said.
Woolworths defends staff clocking for breaks
Woolworths told Yahoo the move is to increase break "visibility" for staff members, to ensure correct pay and better rostering, defending its position that it's in the best interest of workers.
"In a business as large and complex as ours, it's important that we make sure we always do the right thing for our team to ensure they are rostered and paid correctly," a Woolworths spokesperson told Yahoo News. "This solution is critical to ensure there is transparency for our team members, allowing them to have visibility of their meal breaks and confidence that they can take their entitled meal break, knowing that there is coverage for their department."
"This type of system and rostering practices are very common across all parts of the economy in many other sectors."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
