I would appreciate it if Appletree management would rethink the ten minute break policy to be more equitable to people that work more than 7 hours but less than 8. I feel people that work more than 7 hours deserve not just one 30 minute lunch break but also one 10 minute break. Often times the person who is working between 7 and 8 hours is working almost as many (or more) minutes as a person scheduled for a full 8 hours.

For example, let's say Sue is scheduled for a 7 hour and 45 minute shift and Bob is scheduled for an 8 hour shift.  By Appletree's current ten minute break policy, Sue would be eligible for one 30 minute break and Bob would be eligible for two 10 minute breaks and one 30 minute break.

So let's take a look at this:

Bob is scheduled for 8 hours of work. On that 8 hour shift we subtract 50 minutes for breaks (two 10's and a 30 for lunch) and come to a total of 7 hours and 10 minutes of Bob's friendly, helpful and efficient work.

Sue is scheduled for 7 hours and 45 minutes of work. On that 7 hour and 45 minute shift we subtract 30 minutes for lunch and come to a total of 7 hours and 15 minutes of Sue's friendly, helpful and efficient work.

So the person scheduled for 8 hours gets two stretch and refreshment breaks on top of his lunch and works 7 hours and 10 minutes, while the person scheduled for just 15 minutes less works 7 hours and 15 minutes (which is 5 minutes MORE than the person scheduled for an 8 hour shift!!!) and gets NO stretch and refreshment breaks. This doesn't make sense to me.

I understand why there are no ten minute breaks for people who work less than 7 hours, but after 7 hours the shift is long enough to deserve at least one ten minute break on top of the lunch to allow agents to decompress, relax and regain focus. Sitting for 3.25 hours plus at a time on a Saturday or busy holiday with just one 30 minute break to break a constant stream of calls is exhausting. I know that my fellow agents would appreciate an extra 10 minute break after 7 hours to get a drink, eat an apple, stretch our legs or have a smoke so that we can come back refereshed to give the best focused customer service we can.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you, Justin, for posting this.  You did the math and made a very valid point. And considering we have to be "turned off" to use the bathroom, which effects our stats, it would be nice to have that extra ten so as to not bring down our stats.

I agree as well.  I typically am scheduled to work a 7+ hour shift, but never 8 hour shift on a daily basis, I am exhausted and drained by 1 in the afternoon and find myself struggling through the rest of my shift.

It does make sense to have another break put in for those people who are "in between".  I notice I make the most mistakes, get easily frustrated with callers and fellow employees, etc, once my 30 minute break is over and I have a long stretch of time ahead of me. 

I don't like sounding as if we are complaining, but if the customer is our number 1 goal, I don't understand how we can provide exceptional service if we are not performing at 100%.

I would appreciate it if Appletree management would rethink the ten minute break policy to be more equitable to people that work more than 7 hours but less than 8. I feel people that work more than 7 hours deserve not just one 30 minute lunch break but also one 10 minute break. Often times the person who is working between 7 and 8 hours is working almost as many (or more) minutes as a person scheduled for a full 8 hours.

For example, let's say Sue is scheduled for a 7 hour and 45 minute shift and Bob is scheduled for an 8 hour shift.  By Appletree's current ten minute break policy, Sue would be eligible for one 30 minute break and Bob would be eligible for two 10 minute breaks and one 30 minute break.

So let's take a look at this:

Bob is scheduled for 8 hours of work. On that 8 hour shift we subtract 50 minutes for breaks (two 10's and a 30 for lunch) and come to a total of 7 hours and 10 minutes of Bob's friendly, helpful and efficient work.

Sue is scheduled for 7 hours and 45 minutes of work. On that 7 hour and 45 minute shift we subtract 30 minutes for lunch and come to a total of 7 hours and 15 minutes of Sue's friendly, helpful and efficient work.

So the person scheduled for 8 hours gets two stretch and refreshment breaks on top of his lunch and works 7 hours and 10 minutes, while the person scheduled for just 15 minutes less works 7 hours and 15 minutes (which is 5 minutes MORE than the person scheduled for an 8 hour shift!!!) and gets NO stretch and refreshment breaks. This doesn't make sense to me.

I understand why there are no ten minute breaks for people who work less than 7 hours, but after 7 hours the shift is long enough to deserve at least one ten minute break on top of the lunch to allow agents to decompress, relax and regain focus. Sitting for 3.25 hours plus at a time on a Saturday or busy holiday with just one 30 minute break to break a constant stream of calls is exhausting. I know that my fellow agents would appreciate an extra 10 minute break after 7 hours to get a drink, eat an apple, stretch our legs or have a smoke so that we can come back refereshed to give the best focused customer service we can.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you, Justin, for posting this.  You did the math and made a very valid point. And considering we have to be "turned off" to use the bathroom, which effects our stats, it would be nice to have that extra ten so as to not bring down our stats.

I agree as well.  I typically am scheduled to work a 7+ hour shift, but never 8 hour shift on a daily basis, I am exhausted and drained by 1 in the afternoon and find myself struggling through the rest of my shift.

It does make sense to have another break put in for those people who are "in between".  I notice I make the most mistakes, get easily frustrated with callers and fellow employees, etc, once my 30 minute break is over and I have a long stretch of time ahead of me. 

I don't like sounding as if we are complaining, but if the customer is our number 1 goal, I don't understand how we can provide exceptional service if we are not performing at 100%.