working more than 37 hours

[saintpeter48]

is it employment law that anyone who works more than 37 hours a week should get overtime or is it down to employers terms and conditions. my wifes hours have just been increased from 37 to 42 hours without any discussion or negotiation, she was just told that as from X date you have to work more hours. it is a big national company that she works for and she has worked there for 3 years

[boxtops]

Down to terms and conditions. You shouldn't do more than 4 per week under European Working Time Directive. However there should be consultation, many people would find it hard to increase their hours just like that (child care, etc.) Does she have a union?

[saintpeter48]

no union i'm afaraid, she's scared to question it for fear of losing her job.

[craft1948]

i used to work 42 which included 5 paid lunch-hours (this was for BT)

[saintpeter48]

*afraid*

[saintpeter48]

she works split shifts, they just increased it by one hour a day

[boxtops]

If it's a big company there must be an HR department. Does her original contract of employment say how many hours she would work or is it variable? She can always contact the ACAS helpline (free and no obligation) for a chat http://www.acas.org.u...x.aspx?articleid=1410

[saintpeter48]

thanks boxtops, i'll look into it.

[THECORBYLOON]

Have a read of this ACAS lehttp://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id
=316&p=0aflet

[THECORBYLOON]

try again http://www.acas.org.u...ndler.ashx?id=316&p=0

[237SJ]

If her contract says 37 hours, would the company not be in breach of contract if they increase her hours without negociation? I would have thought so.