Do volunteers need the same rest breaks legally as employees?

Question

At present I m volunteering at major charity event.  Last night we worked till 9am to 11pm with a 30 minute break for tea and 15 mins for lunch (although even that was interrupted as we were expected to go to a briefing half way through tea).  This morning they expect us to now work from 6am.

I m slightly annoyed at this as I think it takes the mick.  I looked up legal working hours and I noticed that you are meant to have 11 hours break between a 9 hour shift.  Is this charity breaking the law or do working hours not count for volunteers - also it s not exactly like we have a choice in this it was kind of yesterday - you will do these shifts.

Thankfully this is the last day though but just wondered what was the law.

Little Princess · Answer

Their punishment for doing that is that they have to pay you double for the first three hours and triple for any hours after that.

i · Answer

I don't know if there's any law about this but if your volunteering for this you can just stop anytime

They Pelted Us With Rocks And Garbage · Answer

You're volunteering, nobody is making you work without breaks.

You want a two hour lunch? Take a two hour lunch.

Why would they have laws which regulate charity work?

Par 4 · Answer

The beauty of volunteer work is you can simply walk off the site whenever you finally get fed up and there will be no consequences beyond you not being allowed to go back. It won't go on your employment history as quitting. Tell them to blow steam.

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Do volunteers need the same rest breaks legally as employees?

4 Answers