Maximum working day?

[someoneelse]

Does anyone know where the law stands on this. I have been working for an employment agency (who I have no problem with) but the company they have placed me with has been telling us we must work two hours overtime every day for the last three weeks, plus 8 hour Saturdays. I do not have a problem with that but I do have a problem with what they asked everyone to do today. We started work at 7am this morning (Friday) and were told we would have to work until all the orders were processed. I walked out after working a 16 hour shift as I thought that was a more than reasonable days work but my employer wanted me to stay until 1 or 2 am on Satuday!!!!! A potential 19 hour day cannot be legal? The managers were standing at the exit taking down names of the people leaving `early` and said we would receive verbal warnings on Tuesday. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have tried to google the subjet but it appears very complicated.

[boxtops]

That can't be right. How do they tie that in with the 48-hour maximum working week?

[someoneelse]

You can opt out of the 48 hour maximum week, I am trying to find the contract I signed with the agency to see if this is mentioned but there must be a legal maximum. I nearly crashed my car on the way home as I was so tired.

[Buenchico]

There is no maximum length to any working day. (Up until recently junior hospital doctors worked 36 hour shifts). However there's a minimum period between the end of one day's work and the start of the next day's work. It's 11 hours. For full information, see here:
http://www.direct.gov...sAndTimeOff/index.htm

Chris

[maclarencat]

If you work for an agency how can this company give you a verbal warning. Surely that would have to come from the agency?