Days (or hours) worked in a row - whats the limit?

The_Magnificent_Spoon

Hey all,


Quick one, what (if any) time/date limits are there to employers asking employees to work in a row?


And more specifically, would for example, 38 days in a row, average 10-12 hours a day, be breaking any employment laws (and which?)


Cheers!

specialboy

Google, working time directive.

getmore4less

Working time regulations require 1day a week but can be 2 days over 2 weeks.

Over 4 weeks 2days off, work 24days, 2days off. Is the longest stretch of continuous work days.

There are other rules on breaks, time between shift...

ShadowPuma

https://worksmart.org.uk/work-rights/pay-and-contracts/hours-work/what-are-minimum-rest-periods

The_Magnificent_Spoon

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I wanted. I don't suspect any of you have any real life examples of what penalties would be imposed on companies that breach these rules?

Thanks again

Feyfangirl

I would keep in mind a few employers make you sign an "opt out" agreement for the working time directive you may not have even realized you signed it *got caught that way myself after working nearly eighty hours straight (care role)) it is very hard to nail companies on this, so hope you get some progress

The_Magnificent_Spoon

Feyfangirl wrote: »

I would keep in mind a few employers make you sign an "opt out" agreement for the working time directive you may not have even realized you signed it *got caught that way myself after working nearly eighty hours straight (care role)) it is very hard to nail companies on this, so hope you get some progress

Yep I did read about this, but then also read that they cannot make you sign any waiver either prior to or within the first month of your employment - this is to avoid employers exploiting their staff and forcing them to sign under duress.

The very quick background is that our company had a very busy spell and I was forced to work around 40 days in a row without a day off, despite my protests. Im not a care worker or anything, just what i would consider a standard profession. On the 40th day, there was allegedly an issue with the quality of my work and I am being asked to attend a disciplinary hearing for it. Due to the stress and fatigue of working 40 days without a break I cannot even barely remember anything from that day. Although my personal recollection is that the work I did was absolutely fine, there were no issues, and I bent over backwards to do everything necessary to keep the customer happy.

getmore4less

Opt out ONLY applies to total hours not rest periods.

Only a small part of the regulations is changed by opting out.

Some employers may not be forthcoming with this information some will lie.

Takeaway_Addict

The_Magnificent_Spoon wrote: »

Hey all,


Quick one, what (if any) time/date limits are there to employers asking employees to work in a row?


And more specifically, would for example, 38 days in a row, average 10-12 hours a day, be breaking any employment laws (and which?)


Cheers!

There are no limits on what an employer can ask.

specialboy

I regularly work 84 hour weeks but that is my choice, an employer can't force anyone to work that long without the weekly rest.

dawyldthing

Sometimes employers need reminding about the rules (I have a team leader who does the rota who regularly put us on every day of the week so in the end I said I can't keep working 7 day weeks and sent an email about it and now it's got a lot better). You need to look after yourself and just say look I can't work all these hours.