Working hours question

markeymark

Is there any rules on the length of shift that can be worked? We used to work 7.30am till 9.30pm with a 45 minute break(13.25hours) this was voluntary and we basically got an extra day off for it. Our work now have stopped this, we have asked to opt-out of the WTD, but they have refused us this option. But they allow our nightshift workers to opt out as they do around 72 hours a week. We have raised a staff grievance as these shifts have been worked for over 10 years without any problems and they allowed staff a greater deal of flexibility. But our management refuse to deviate from this and keep referring to their Staff Attendance Review, which basically states the maximum scheduled shift should not be more than 12 hours, it also states the maximum working week should not be any longer than 48 hours, apart from nightshift workers who work from Monday to Monday about 72 hours

I hope you can advise me please.

Kind Regards

paddedjohn

Regardless of the WTD you can not force your employer to extend your hours beyond what they are offering. Is it possible to get yourself onto the nightshift?

getmore4less

opting out only applies to the hours not the breaks.

7nights in a row would not normaly be allowed unless compensatory breaks are being used. the average should be 6

markeymark

No we cannot go onto nightshift as they are on a different pay band. Is there anything in the WTD about the length of the longest shift allowed? It seems its one rule for one

Funky_Bold_Ribena

What are you trying to achieve here? Do you know why work have changed the rules?

notanewuser

markeymark wrote: »

No we cannot go onto nightshift as they are on a different pay band. Is there anything in the WTD about the length of the longest shift allowed? It seems its one rule for one

You have to have at least 11 hours between the end of 1 shift and the start of another, and at least one period of 24 hours without work per week. So in theory you could do a 13 hour shift, but your employer doesn't have to let you do this.

getmore4less

notanewuser wrote: »

You have to have at least 11 hours between the end of 1 shift and the start of another, and at least one period of 24 hours without work per week. So in theory you could do a 13 hour shift, but your employer doesn't have to let you do this.

There is an exemption for shift workers that allow the time between shift to be less than 11 hours.

markeymark

The way I'm seeing it is we have been allowed to do these shifts previously for over 10 days leave, it provided more flexibility and also saved us money on travelling, but because we have an attendance policy which states management cannot roster us a shift any longer than 12 hours, they have stopped us doing them. I've asked to be allowed to opt-out to allow us to still do them but they refused us this, but allow others to opt-out! I've complained this is discrimination but its falling on deaf ears

markeymark

getmore4less wrote: »

There is an exemption for shift workers that allow the time between shift to be less than 11 hours.

We get compensatory rest at a later time, we are not working any more than 48 hours per week. We get 4 days off per fortnight, 2 of these are at the weekend. So technically over the 17 week period our hours average out

markeymark

getmore4less wrote: »

opting out only applies to the hours not the breaks.

7nights in a row would not normaly be allowed unless compensatory breaks are being used. the average should be 6

Our nightshift workers do not get official breaks away from the workplace, they are allowed to eat on post, does it make any difference because we work in a prison ie exceptions etc

dancingfairy

Are you in a union? Might be worth getting in touch with them on this?
df