I work in the technical help section of big retail store in the UK. My contracted hours are till 10 past the hour. Normally, everything including the recovery on the floor, is all done by the hour. We are then sort of stood around for 5-10 minutes, doing nothing. We are located in London so public transport is the main way most of the staff get around. Because there is literally nothing left to do, the managers usually send us home 5 past so we can get to our trains. But now the higher ups are having a go for the managers doing that. So I then have to stand around idle for 10 minutes, despite everything being done, which isn't my role anyway, I fix the 'puters, the others are in charge of the state of the floor.
My next train isn't for another 40 minutes after if I cant catch the next one.
I have to dash down the large building we're in get my stuff, go back on myself and run to my train which is a 10 minute walk away, the doors to the train shut a minute before… you get the gist.
When I've asked, the manager has said that we cannot change the contract from 10 past to on the hour because “that's what everyone else is on”, despite that not being true due to changes in rotas for personal reasons.
Is it fair to ask for 10 minutes off my schedule so I can catch the next train? (not pay me for the 10 minutes obviously.) Would this be a reasonable ask as it pertains to fair work/life balance? Or should I start invoicing the company for the wasted 40 minutes I would have to wait for the next train?