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The law on a reasonable amount of overtime
VictorCharlie
Posts: 136 Forumite
Does anyone know what the law says is a reasonable amount of overtime? My company often 'forces' overtime and if you do not work it you face disciplinary action.
They refuse to tell us what they consider, or what the law considers to be a reasonable amount.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
They refuse to tell us what they consider, or what the law considers to be a reasonable amount.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
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Comments
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Unless you'd breach the working time directive, and haven't opted out, the law is silent on the matter0
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VictorCharlie wrote: »Does anyone know what the law says is a reasonable amount of overtime? My company often 'forces' overtime and if you do not work it you face disciplinary action.
They refuse to tell us what they consider, or what the law considers to be a reasonable amount.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
What's the reason for the disciplinary ?
Refusing to give every single minute, hour of your time to the company.0 -
I'm assuming this is paid overtime?0
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In my last company I was putting in about 60/70 hours of overtime a month. We had to sign out of the working time regs when we got offered the job. If you didn't sign out you were basically told you're not getting the job.
One of my co workers at the time kicked up a fuss about it, he was being asked to do overtime on late nights which he didn't want to do as he has kids, then he was 'told' he 'was' doing the overtime as he had signed a contract and was told that he would be expected to do his fair share of overtime. This is why about 4 of us have since left that company lol.
There was no disciplinary action taking if you didn't do it, but you were often reprimanded for it and were made to stand out as not pulling your weight and 'forcing' your work mates to pick up the slack.
Overtime in my opinion, may not be the legal opinion, has always been optional. You expect some times to have to work a bit longer than usual, but being disciplined for not wanting to work extra hours that is more or less your choice, I'm assuming your manager or above are no help?0 -
Less than two years employment? If so, it's irrelevant. They can sack you any time they want for pretty much no reason.VictorCharlie wrote: »Does anyone know what the law says is a reasonable amount of overtime? My company often 'forces' overtime and if you do not work it you face disciplinary action.
They refuse to tell us what they consider, or what the law considers to be a reasonable amount.
Any help or advice is appreciated.0 -
I've been with the company 3 years.
My current contract is 44 hours a week but the usual hours we work is 50 hours a week. Currently doing 55 hours a week as it's busy.
After 48 hours we are paid at the overtime rate so technically already doing 7 hours overtime a week.0 -
In a union?
Also, can you see any obvious solutions? For example, if there are more than 7 of you regularly working 7+ hours of overtime, that's an argument for taking on another worker - it would cost the company less to pay you all at basic rate.
If fewer than 7, would a part-timer help?
Are there ways of doing the job smarter?
And so on ...Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
Compulsory overtime is quite common in NHS. You can imagine the hoo ha in the papers if a surgeon said part way through an operation, that's me done for my 8 hours and left the patient half done. A lot of front line roles such as A&E are like this too (see junior doctors dispute of last few years).
However there are the working time directives which among other things say you have to have at least an 11 hour break between shifts. Of course, with being there less than 2 years you may find yourself let go for having the wrong colour tie.
Maybe talk to your colleagues about joining a union?0 -
Compulsory overtime is quite common in NHS. You can imagine the hoo ha in the papers if a surgeon said part way through an operation, that's me done for my 8 hours and left the patient half done. - That's not compulsory overtime, that's the legal duty of care a doctor (which a surgeon is) has to their patient. A lot of front line roles such as A&E are like this too (see junior doctors dispute of last few years).
However there are the working time directives which among other things say you have to have at least an 11 hour break between shifts. Of course, with being there less than 2 years you may find yourself let go for having the wrong colour tie.
Maybe talk to your colleagues about joining a union?
Why would he/she need colleagues to join a union, it's open to anyone...0 -
I think you'll find NHS workers are entitled to be paid overtime rates for the extra hours beyond their scheduled hours.
Unions are better & more effective if more people join & support them.0
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