Most people at work have a basic set of working time rights that cover how long you can work each week, how often you should get breaks and how much holiday you should get each year.
You are entitled to:
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· the right to a break where the working day is longer than six hours; · a guaranteed rest period of 11 hours every working day; · a guaranteed rest period of 24 hours once in every seven days; · a ceiling of 48 hours on the maximum average working week; · a ceiling on night work of an average of 8 hours in every 24; · the right to four weeks annual leave; · a free health assessment for all night workers with a possibility to transfer to day work (where it is available) if working at night is damaging a worker’s health. |
You can choose to opt-out of the 48 hour limit, but you can reverse this decision at any time and regain your rights. The notice period for this cannot be more than three months. There is no opt out from the 48 hour average weekly limit on nightwork or any of the other provisions. Your employer cannot force you to work more than 48 hours a week, if you do not wish to.
If your employer is forcing you to work more than a 48 hour week, or sets your shifts so that you do not get an adequate rest break in between, or is denying you any of your holiday time and pay then contact your union for advice. If you are not a member of a union then visit unionfinder to find the best union for you.
If you want to know more about holiday entitlement and pay, sickness absence and pay, and other entitlements such as parental and carers leave then visit Worksmart
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Major thankies for the blog post. Want more.
27 June 2010 at 6:28 am