48 hour week

[jasy]

When is this being implemented and will there be an opt out or will it be enforced?. I work in construction and some firms have gone on to it. Is it just covering mon-fri so i can still work weekends. Adam W, do you have the answers to my questions????????

 

[kendor]

I hope there is an opt out, i'm all for only having to work a 20 hour week or less

 

[jasy]

like it

 

[AdamW]

I thought there already was a 48-hour limit that came into force earlier in the year? As far as I am aware, they can't ask you to work any more than 48 hours per week, on average, but you can waive your right to that limit. DTI website.

a limit of an average of 48 hours a week which a worker can be required to work (though workers can choose to work more if they want to).

a right to 11 hours rest a day.

a right to a day off each week.

I would imagine that you can waive your rights to the second and third of those too, either that or much of UK industry is breaking the law! I have certainly had occasions where I have not had the 11 hours rest in one day.

However, say you apply for a job that will usually require you to work more than 48 hours a week. The employer will no doubt insist you sign the waiver on your first day. It could be very difficult to NOT sign that waiver.

 

[andy]

when i started work at a factory 1 year ago they asked us 2 sign forms for various things. i refused to sign the sheet to say i will do more than 10 hours O/T per week. in the 6 month i was there i neva done any over time

 

[jasy]

[fellas, at the moment you can opt out of the 48 hr week. March/April it is coming into effect that you cant. I want to know if it is just for monday-friday and that you can still do overtime

 

[planenut]

We have signed the opt out at work but that really is for the benefit of the employer so that they don't have to employ more people.

At the moment, being a full time worker, my ideal working week would be start at 10a.m., finish at 2p.m., and a two hour lunch break, I still haven't found the piece of paper to sign up for that.

 

[AdamW]

At the moment, being a full time worker, my ideal working week would be start at 10a.m., finish at 2p.m., and a two hour lunch break, I still haven't found the piece of paper to sign up for that.

I tried to have one of those "duvet days", but they didn't half look at me funny when I came into work with a duvet and spent the day sleeping under my desk...

 

[planenut]

We've got lazy b*stards in our office who appear to sleep all day on the desk and nobody takes notice of them, even when i'm having a go at the managers about them.

 

[AdamW]

We did have a guy who really would sleep much of the day, I clocked him sleeping for an average of 3 hours a day, but he would still be snoozing when I left for home. He was claiming for each and everyone of those hours. That is 3 hours a day, EVERY day, as well! He would snore his head off as well, but in true English style everyone was far too polite to wake him up, but would just sit around b*tching about it instead.

I often feel like it though... I reckon I could do with an hour's kip around 3 o'clock every afternoon. Perhaps with global warming we can get siestas?

 

[masona]

[fellas, at the moment you can opt out of the 48 hr week. March/April it is coming into effect that you cant. I want to know if it is just for monday-friday and that you can still do overtime

From what I understand the reason for 48 hrs is that in the UK do more hours per week than the rest of Europe and this got more noticeable when the junior doctor's over here was working over 70 hours per week I think this 48 hrs business will not effect us that much but I do know it will effect the HGV driver's, having said that, as long as you do a average of no more than 48hrs over 17 weeks period to 6 months (when it suit them ) In March we will have to employ more HGV driver's because they will be going onto a rolling week ( 1 weekend off in a month ) The next problem is that we are 176,000 HGV shortage of drivers in the UK before the 48 hrs start This government is panicky, so they are now coming up with idea to take on people from aboard for HGV driving, do I need to go on ?
Like I says, I don't think it will effect most of us and remember you can work more than 48 hrs if you want to but they can't force you.

 

[pipme]

Stop bit ching boys .. and get on with it ! Before your jobs are contracted out overseas !!
Think I'll wander up to the post office on a congestion free road, all the workers are in their places of graft or sleep .... Ho Hum !!

 

[AdamW]

The next problem is that we are 176,000 HGV shortage of drivers in the UK before the 48 hrs start

No, there won't be a problem with this... after all, aren't our diesel prices competitive with those in Europe? No way would any sane government pass legislation that would scupper the industry that makes sure we all get food and goods!

Surely you aren't suggesting that the haulage industry has been pi**ed on, are you?

You know, if the government took some of that fuel duty revenue and invested it in research, the UK could be a world leader in non-fossil fuel powered vehicles. That would include HGVs, so our truckers could win overseas work on a cost basis and a green basis (does Kyoto just apply to fossil fuel CO2?)

 

[masona]

Surely you aren't suggesting that the haulage industry has been pi**ed on, are you?

Afraid so, we have 9 HGV bitumen drivers short at the moment and have a guess what is the reasonable amount they should earn driving unsociable long hours ?

 

[PowerTool]

Salaried drivers in the NorthEast UK on about 24-25k for 55 hrs (based on 5 x 11 hour days).Hourly rate for chemical tanker drivers is about £7

In relation to the Working Time Directive,the big get-out clause for LGV drivers is "periods of availability" which do not count towards your weekly total - otherwise,it is an average 48 hour week over any three month period,with a maximum of 60 hours (I think) possible in any one week.
And if you have a days holiday,you have to count it as 10 hours,and count a weeks holiday as 48.
And a "rolling week" is more likely to be 4 days on,two days off (so your "weekend" varies each week)