four weeks of work with no day off- is this lega?l

hamstersandsprinkles

Hi there,

I would be really grateful if somebody could help me please? I work as a cleaner and have a few different cleaning jobs with different companies. One of the companies I work for require me to work 4 weeks without a day off as the place I clean will be open every day during this time.

My normal working hours are monday- Saturday 5.15am to 7.45am. What I have tried to do in the past is to go into work on the Saturday evening instead of the Sunday morning however this isn't always possible as sometimes there still using the place and I can't get in. Or I am doing my other cleaning jobs for different employers.

I am starting to get really down and fed up, getting up at 4.45 am for 4 weeks on the trot is taking its toll.

Is this legal and am I entitled to a day of rest regardless that it's 'just' a morning job of 2 and half hours. Surely I am entitled to at least 1 day of rest.

Thanks

Westbeef

You're entitled to 1 day off per week.

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1373

El_Torro

If you're over 18 you're entitled to 1 day off a week. As far as I can see you are entitled to this even if you only work 2 and a half hours a day.

Flyonthewall

Workers have the right to either:

• an uninterrupted 24 hours without any work each week
• an uninterrupted 48 hours without any work each fortnight

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work/overview

You said your normal working hours are Monday to Saturday though so why are you going in on Sunday? Or did you mean to type Sunday?

Ariel82

My last day off was mid September, my next one is Christmas Day, after that it's mid March. If I can do it, you can too!

sangie595

hamstersandsprinkles wrote: »

Hi there,

I would be really grateful if somebody could help me please? I work as a cleaner and have a few different cleaning jobs with different companies. One of the companies I work for require me to work 4 weeks without a day off as the place I clean will be open every day during this time.

My normal working hours are monday- Saturday 5.15am to 7.45am. What I have tried to do in the past is to go into work on the Saturday evening instead of the Sunday morning however this isn't always possible as sometimes there still using the place and I can't get in. Or I am doing my other cleaning jobs for different employers.

I am starting to get really down and fed up, getting up at 4.45 am for 4 weeks on the trot is taking its toll.

Is this legal and am I entitled to a day of rest regardless that it's 'just' a morning job of 2 and half hours. Surely I am entitled to at least 1 day of rest.

Thanks

Is this an ad hoc arrangement? I think what you are saying is that the requirement to work Sundays only happens at certain times of the year, because the post doesn't make a lot of sense otherwise. Assuming you are an employee, and not self-employed, it is certainly true that you are entitled to a days rest (although not necessary Sunday) - but there are exceptions which entitle an employer to delay entitlements for business reasons. Frankly I don't think they would win such an argument, but the fact is that it may take a legal case to prove that - and you also aren't about to start a legal case with the costs that entails over a few hours a week. And unless you have more than two years service with this employer, it may not be in your interests for continued employment with them.


How often are you required to work on a Sunday, and have you discussed this with the employer to see if an agreement can be reached?

Flyonthewall

Ariel82 wrote: »

My last day off was mid September, my next one is Christmas Day, after that it's mid March. If I can do it, you can too!

Yeah because that's how the law works... o.O

There are exceptions to the day rest, but if they don't affect you then by law you are entitled to a days rest too.

Ariel82

I was trying to be supportive but never mind!

I work with animals so time off isn't easy, if your paid by the hour then go for it, it's horrid not getting enough time off to rest but think of the money. If your salaried then screw it demand your rightful time off!

DandelionPatrol

Ariel82 wrote: »

I was trying to be supportive but never mind!

It came across as dismissive. OP plainly does not want to work 28 days on the trot and probably wants support along the lines of 'legally, you do not have to'

sangie595

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

It came across as dismissive. OP plainly does not want to work 28 days on the trot and probably wants support along the lines of 'legally, you do not have to'

Of course they do not have to. And the employer does not have to employ them. What is "right" or even "legally right", doesn't mean that you will get anything else but "not wanted". But since the OP hasn't been back to clarify questions, then everything else is speculation.

Flyonthewall

Ariel82 wrote: »

I was trying to be supportive but never mind!

I work with animals so time off isn't easy, if your paid by the hour then go for it, it's horrid not getting enough time off to rest but think of the money. If your salaried then screw it demand your rightful time off!

I did wonder, but half the time such comments like yours are from those who lack understanding of how things should be and think others should just accept how things are.

You need to make it clear because it's far too easy for people on forums to take things different ways. If you'd said "I know how you feel..." it would have been more obvious.

I think if you get no time to rest and it's really draining that affects your health. It's surely best to have your health rather than money.

Difficulty doesn't change the legal side either.

Also, remember that you have no idea who the OP is or who else might read this. Saying if I can do it you can too may be meant as supportive, but it might not be true. Obviously there are many idiots out there who won't think things through and you can't word things perfectly to get through to everyone and all. Just something to think about though.