Working hours

[carbado]

Hi all, I work for a call centre and do 18.5 hours per week, two of my shifts in particular are a fri night and sat morning. Times for these shifts are 5.30pm - 11pm on fri and 8am-3.30pm on sat... Just questioning this as they will not change my shift pattern, am i right or wrong in saying that there is a H+S law that must allow at least 11hrs period between shifts... I can remember seeing that somewhere while reading through a relatives employee hand book while he was working for a fast food outlet a while ago... can anyone confirm ... thanks

[Buenchico]

It's within health and safety law. It's part of the Working Time Regulations. You must have a minimum of 11 hours rest between each working day unless there is a 'collective agreement' or 'workforce agreement' in place. (A 'collective agreement' is where an employer has agreed the arrangement with a trade union. A 'workforce agreement' is where an employer has agreed the arrangement with the elected representatives of his employees. These agreements have to be in writing).

The basic rules are here:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr5.htm#section 5

The rules about the two types of agreement are here:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr8.htm#excepti ons

Chris

[lushkayt]

Regardless of the H&S law, which it seems from the previous answer your employer may be in breach of, it seems they've got a pretty bad attitude and you don't deserve to be treated like that! I know it's an easy thing to say (and much harder to do) but I think you should look to work somewhere else that deserves you! There are far too many of these places getting away with treating their staff like dirt! Right, I'll get off my soapbox now....