How many hours work a week is reasonable?

ceridwen

19 hours!!!!!!:eek:

There are laws regulating how many hours one can legally work at a stretch...agreed overtime or no agreed overtime. I have the vague idea that the law just plain doesnt allow someone to work for more than 12 hours at a stretch - I'm not sure on the exact time...as that sort of question never arises in my sort of job. At 19 hours - his employer is quite quite definitely breaking the law.

The TUC website could give guidance on this.

www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_main.cfm

ailuro2

tell him to speak to the other workers about it, find out how they feel, if he is a lone voice then he'll probably find he was deemed unsuitable when any trial period comes to an end, or when they need to lay people off after Christmas and things quieten down.

Will the long hours decrease after Christmas is over? I do agree he should be encouraged to save all his overtime in a pot for when times are harder.;)

Phudge

Thank-you , I am encouraged by your replies. The law states that under 18's must not work more than 40 hours. He is almost 18 though. A 12 hour break? Chance would be a fine thing! Last night he got in at almost midnight and was at work again this morning at 8 am. Saturdays are particularly long and hard.

Everyone works the same hours and no, the overtime will not reduce after Christmas, the hours will always be long. Liney, it is a small place but part of a group of establishments nationwide. I will try and talk to him over the weekend about speaking to his manager about it. I am sure he is all too aware of the problem already.

liney

When he is 18 it will change to maximum of 13 hours per day, for 6 days a week, although he would be allowed to work 7 days one week as long as he had 2 days off the following. These a maximums even if he signs a 48 hour opt out form.

As it is part of a National Chain, and as he has a contract, i would say he should query this directly with HR, not his manager at the hotel. HR who will be aware of the rules, but his acting manager may need further training, or just be ignoring his/her responsibilities. Perhaps an email stating the shifts he is expected to work for the next week, and querying their duty to work within the Working Time Regulations Act, would be in order.

http://www.pers.org.uk/hoursbreaks.pdf I have just re-read this for clarification, and the only part i can see the hotel could argue is that your son may be allowed to work upto Midnight, instead of 10pm due to the industry to provide continuity of service, but the rest of the maximum hours so stand.

Phudge

Thanks so much Liney. I will chat to him this weekend and see if I might be able to offer some pointers to having a chat with his manager.

I really appreciate all the input so thank-you everyone!

cazziebo

Interesting thread - about twenty years ago this wouldn't even have been questioned... I agree people shouldn't work so many hours, and it is wrong for employers to expect them to.

However, hospitality is a tough, tough industry. I don't really think it gets that much easier as people escalate the career ladder. Both my sisters are chefs. They both started in hotels where they worked lunches, afternoon break, then back at work for 5pm until they were finished - which was often 1am. (And then they would go out clubbing until 3pm!! :eek: With an easy office job, I wondered where their stamina came from!) Both of them now own several restaurants each, and even though now employ their own chefs, work just as hard. At different times, they have left the industry to do sales, or admin, but both went back and would be viewed as very successful. (they certainly have more material things and opportunities for travel than I do with my degrees!)

Your son is young, in his first job, and generally seems to love it. I wouldn't hold him back at all, and importantly, as oldernotwiser says, don't talk down the terms and conditions. It's not taking the mick, it's the industry. Not sure about talking to the manager at this early stage. He's just in the door, and it's the busiest time - by far - in the hotel industry. Jan - March will be a different story, I'd give more time to appraise the true situation.

You must be so proud - sounds as if he is going to be successful whatever.

Andy_L

Phudge wrote: »

He works from 8 am until 10pm -12 am 5 days a week, so between 14-16 hours a day or between 70-80 hours a week.

is he actually working for all those hours or do they stand him down for, say, 2 hours mid-morning & mid afternoon so he doesn't count as "working" for those 4 hours?

Phudge

Yes, he is working those hours, only meal breaks, no split shifts.

Cazziebo, he is a commis actually, you're right, the industry is tough but I do believe there has to be some balance at least between working hard and getting some rest and relaxation.

bristol_pilot

Does he drive to/from work?

Phudge

No, luckily it is quite nearby and he can walk or get a lift from us . One plus point to the job!