BP to scrap paid shift breaks and perks for working on bank holidays

BP is ditching paid rest breaks and most bank holiday bonuses for 5,400 workers in its petrol forecourts as it attempts to offset a planned rise in the independent living wage.

- Sarah Butler

The company has told workers in its 310 company-run forecourts that it will be changing their benefits in February. Workers at a further 850 BP-branded forecourts run by partners are on different pay deals.

BP is an accredited member of the Living Wage Foundation's fair pay scheme, under which employers commit to pay all staff an annually set wage to meet living costs.

While hourly pay for BP's affected workers will rise to a minimum of £13.45 in February - a 6.7% rise from £12.60 this year, in line with the Living Wage Foundation scheme - one worker said the changes in benefits by BP reduced take-home pay by at least 6.25%, wiping out much of the hourly pay rise.

At present, most BP workers receive 1.5-times their usual hourly pay for working on bank holidays and are paid for one 20-minute break in a shift of four to six hours or a 30-minute break for longer shifts.