We look at the potential impact of the changes still to come the effect of losing the optout on uk industry three senior hr professionals explain how their. European commission press release details page brussels, 15 november 2011 what is the working time directive. Your business has legal responsibilities for employees working hours and. You can buy the book at uk and most good bookshops. Night workers must not work more than an average of 8 hours in a 24hour period. If any of your workers do night work even casual, freelance and agency workers there are special regulations you must comply with.
The employee and employer can agree a different night period together, if they want to. Find out about working time regulations and employee entitlements. A night worker is someone who regularly works for at least. It aims to set common minimum protective standards against the health and safety risks to workers short and long term posed. Y there is not an adult available to perform the task y the client or recruitment consultancy ensures that your.
The working time regulations 1998 are the regulations by which the uk puts into place its obligations under the eus working time directive see working time directive the working time regulations are in place to protect workers from excessive hours. Working conditions sectoral working time sectoral working time air. The working time regulations the regulations were amended, with effect from 1 august 2003, to extend working time measures in full to all nonmobile workers in road, sea, inland waterways and lake transport, to all workers in the railway and offshore sectors, and to all workers in aviation who are not covered by the civil aviation working time regulations 2004. The directive is a european union initiative designed to protect workers from exploitation by employers. The working time directive is also a great example of how britain plays by the rules even when it doesnt like them. Under the organisation of working time act 1997, night time is the period between midnight and 7am on the following day. Nov 26, 2002 by the time its implementation is complete, the working time directive will be almost 20 years old. Summary of the law on working time thompsons solicitors. Seafarers are covered by a separate directive, and workers in river and lake transport are covered by the inland waterways working time regulations. The laws around night working and night workers are very complicated. Briefing 55 december 20 working time regulations for transport services and mobile workers this briefing provides a summary of the main requirements of the working time directive, particularly in relation to transport services and drivers.
Regulation 201 disapplies most of the working time limits if a. Restricted hours for night work reduced to between midnight and 4 am. It is provided to apse member authorities throughout the uk. To this end, the directive specifies inter alia minimum daily and weekly rest periods, a maximum weekly working time of 48 hours, the right to paid annual leave of four weeks, various specific provisions on night work and shift. Working time directive should go the coalition government has been urged to support the repeal of the working time directive, which aims to limit workers hours, because of its negligible. Summary of the law on working time st n ng r 3 contents about this booklet 5 overview of basic rights 5 who is covered. Making night shift work and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.
Mar 24, 2004 uk workers are about to feel the effects of the eu working time directive, to be implemented in the next 18 months. The rights and entitlements relating to length of night work. Consequences of the eu working time directive money. If they do, it must be 7 hours long and include midnight to 5am. The provisions in the latter directive which are implemented relate only to adolescents those aged. The renewed attention to the european unions working time directive in the uk is not undeserved. As a night worker, you should not work more than an average of eight hours in each 24hour period. Working time in the united kingdom is regulated in uk labour law in respect of holidays, daily breaks, night work and the maximum working day under the working time regulations. The council of the european union, having regard to the treaty establishing the european community, and in particular article 118a thereof, having regard to the proposal from the commission, in cooperation with the. As working for long hours and excessive periods of time had been identified as one of the major causes of stress, depression and illness among workers, the european. Nightwork is defined as at least three hours of work taking place between the hours of 11pm and 6am. Exceptions apply if workers and employers agree a different period for night time. If you are at home and oncall, you may be given an allowance, but basically, working time only starts when you are actually called out.
The working time directive is a european union directive that provides the right for workers in eu member states to have a minimum number. Understanding the working time directive 1998 and changing. Workers who normally work at night including those on regular rotating shifts, but excluding those who only occasionally work nights are protected under the working time regulations 1998 wtr. There have also been challenges in the european court of justice as to whether time spent on call should be counted as working time. Compensatory rest is rest that you are owed and is ideally taken during the same or following working day. The aim of the regulations is to impose minimum requirements on employers, while at the same time allowing flexibility for workers and employers to. Why and how the eus working time directive matters. Which groups of workers are not covered by working time rules. Member states may make the work of certain categories of night workers subject to certain guarantees, under conditions laid down by national legislation andor practice, in the case of workers who incur risks to their safety or health linked to nighttime working. Although excluded from other working time protections, mobile and road transport workers who are night workers are entitled to health assessments. Uk legislation the working time regulations 1998 statutory instrument 1998 no.
The ecj decision suggests that the working time directive was not correctly implemented by the wtr because it is not enough for employers to have systems of recording average working time and night work. The working time regulations were introduced in order to implement the ec working time directive which lays down minimum conditions relating to weekly working time, rest entitlements and annual leave, and makes special provision for working hours and health assessments in. Nov 15, 2011 european commission press release details page brussels, 15 november 2011 what is the working time directive. By the time its implementation is complete, the working time directive will be almost 20 years old. This article will cover the law around working time in great britain, including how to reduce or increase an employees hours of work and abide by rules laid out in the working time directive 1998.
Staff who regularly work at least 3 hours during the night period are night workers. The aim of this white paper is to find the best ways of ensuring the protection of the health. What rightwingers tell you about the working time directive is wrong. Even so, any changed period must be at least seven 7 hours long and it must include midnight 24. Jun 09, 2010 the eu working time directive in detail the eu working time directive has faced fierce criticism for the restrictions it places on employees and workers, with doctors warning that it is hampering nhs. They also allow for paid annual leave and include employees rights to rest breaks and. You can choose to work more by opting out of the 48hour week. Employers should ensure that the normal hours of their night workers do not exceed an. Library books, journals and databases subject guides. A night worker is someone who usually works at least 3 hours during the night period. This factsheet explains the legal rights that the directive gives to uk workers who sleep in at work and gives an update on recent legislative developments. Minimum standards for working time in the civil aviation sector are laid down in an eu directive. It gives eu workers the right to at least 4 weeks in paid holidays each year, rest breaks, and rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hours.
Which groups of workers are not covered by working time rules, or treated as a special case. Organisations should record the actual number of working hours, including paid and unpaid hours. The working time regulations 1998 apply across the uk. The working time regulations 1998 implement the same directive in the uk. Understanding the working time directive 1998 and changing employees hours of work.
The rules on working hours hour and limits, rests, health assessments and terms and conditions night working hours. Article 10 authorizes member states to make the work of certain categories of night workers subject to certain guarantees, in the case of workers who incur risks to their health or safety linked to nighttime working, and article 12 obliges member states, in particular, to take the measures necessary to ensure that night workers and shift. A night worker is someone who regularly works for at least three hours during this period. Working hours in the uk are governed by the working time regulations 1998. Workers where, on account of the specific characteristics of the activity in which they are engaged, the duration of their working time is not measured or predetermined or can be determined by the workers themselves, are excluded from the limits on weekly and night working hours and the minimum daily and weekly rest periods and rest breaks, but not the holiday provisions.
You should take further advice if you work in any of. Uk workers are about to feel the effects of the eu working time directive, to be implemented in the next 18 months. Jun 05, 2006 at the heart of the arguments is a controversial optout, which allows employees in the uk and some other member states to work more than the generally adopted maximum of 48 hours per week. The organisation strives to provide a safe working environment and ensure the safety and wellbeing of. Mobile workers in road transport have more limited protections. In 1998 the new labour government also estimated that 3.
At the heart of the arguments is a controversial optout, which allows employees in the uk and some other member states to work more than the generally adopted maximum of 48 hours per week. If any of your workers do night work even casual, freelance and agency workers there are special regulations you must comply with the regulations define night time as the period between 23. Sep 15, 2009 the working time directive was a europeanwide piece of legislation that was passed in 1993 and came into force more than a decade ago, despite attempts by the then conservative government to. The history of the european community working time directive. Following an initial consultation in january 2004 the department for transport issued on 1 november 2004 draft regulations and draft formal guidance on the road transport working time regulations which were introduced into uk law on 23 march 2005. A night workers normal hours of work shall not exceed an average. In 2010, 22 eu states breached at least one of the directives provisions, according to a report by the centre for european reform. Article 10 authorizes member states to make the work of certain categories of night workers subject to certain guarantees, in the case of workers who incur risks to their health or safety linked to night time working, and article 12 obliges member states, in particular, to take the measures necessary to ensure that night workers and shift. The working time regulations 1998 are the regulations by which the uk puts into place its obligations under the eus working time directive see working time directive. Without the need to comply with the eus working time directive wtd, uk workers can earn more by working longer hours than the current 48hour weekly limit. Apr 29, 2002 the working time directive was highly controversial when it was introduced to the uk four years ago. What rightwingers tell you about the working time directive. Consequences of the eu working time directive money the. The eu working time directive in detail the eu working time directive has faced fierce criticism for the restrictions it places on employees and workers, with.
Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of, or provide service across, all 24. Under the organisation of working time act 1997, nighttime is the period between midnight and 7am on the following day. Member states may make the work of certain categories of night workers subject to certain guarantees, under conditions laid down by national legislation andor practice, in the case of workers who incur risks to their safety or health linked to night time working. Steve frei has been a nightshiftworking emergency physician for over 30 years. Employee holiday entitlement and working hours mygov. They are also covered by the tachograph rules on driving time. Offshore workers are covered by the regulations, but the weekly working time limit is averaged over 52 weeks. Dec 18, 2017 you can choose to opt out of the working time directive if youre over 18 and dont work in an industry where tiredness kills airline staff, ship and boat workers, delivery drivers, other transport and travel workers, security guards on vehicles carrying highvalue goods, etc. The european parliament voted in 2008 to end the right of individual doctors in member states to opt out of the directive, while the european council of heads of state and government wants them to retain that right. They affect the number of hours an employee can work per week as well as. Most workers should not have to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, according to the working time regulations. This law is sometimes called the working time directive or working time regulations. Working time regulations 1998 amended 2007 legislation. May 24, 2010 working time directive should go the coalition government has been urged to support the repeal of the working time directive, which aims to limit workers hours, because of its negligible.
The uk wtd is quite clear, if you are at your place of work either asleep or working, this is working time. So uk workers are already free of the shackles of working. Uk site to calculate an employees holiday entitlement. Night workers should not work for more than an average of eight hours in each 24 hour period. The worker must get a followup examination by a health professional when an employer is unsure if the worker is fit for night work. Working time directive on call and sleeping in background many workers are required to be oncall or sleepin at or near their place of work, meaning that they can be at work for long periods of time. The aim of the wtd is to set down minimum safety and health requirements for the organisation of working time. Which groups of workers are not covered by working time.
They also allow for paid annual leave and include employees rights to rest breaks and uninterrupted periods of rest. The working time regulations are designed with health and safety in mind, but this can be a challenge for employers when workers have multiple jobs, says phil allen, partner and employment law specialist at weightmans llp. These limit the working week to an average of 48 hours although there is an optout, and the working day to an average of 8 hours. The regulations define night time as the period between 23. The working time regulations the regulations, provide rights for workers ensuring that they do not have to work excessive hours. This article will cover the law around working time in great britain, including how to reduce or increase an employees hours of work and abide by rules laid out in. This book is for employers, safety representatives, trade union officials, employees. Additional rules apply to night workers on top of the rules on maximum weekly working hours and rest breaks. The regulations also give you rights to paid holiday, rest breaks and limits on night work. The organisation strives to provide a safe working environment and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all its workers. The working time directive was a europeanwide piece of legislation that was passed in 1993 and came into force more than a decade ago, despite attempts by.
Implementing an agreement between the main employer and employee organisations at european level, the directive provides for. Working time and breaks advice guides royal college of nursing. Following this case time spent travelling to and from home to certain jobs during the first and last journeys of the day may be working time, but only for. Night shift workers rights uk working at night regulations. Night workers should not work more than an average 8 hours in a 24hour period. But the commission hadnt taken a single one of them to court. If you become pregnant or are a new mother, and are worried about the risks of night time work, you should speak to your employer about being moved to daytime work. White paper on sectors and activities excluded from the working time directive introduction1. The most experienced personal injury practice in the uk with over.
The working time regulations are in place to protect workers from excessive hours. Nov 21, 2011 the working time directive is a european union directive that provides the right for workers in eu member states to have a minimum number of holidays each year, paid breaks and rest of at least 11. They also give workers and employees the right to paid leave and specified rest breaks. Clearly this kind of work needs to take account of the working time directive, which is designed to prevent workers being forced to. The rights under the working time regulations apply to.
The working time directive 200388ec is an important part of the eus health and safety laws to protect workers. When the working time regulations were formally introduced in 1998 the uk s employment landscape looked very different. Briefing 55 december 20 working time regulations for. The working time directive was highly controversial when it was introduced to the uk four years ago. The working time directive 200388ec is a directive in european union law. These regulations implement council directive 93104ec concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time o. Then came council directive 93104ec of 23 november 1993 this is the directive that became the uk, and other european nations, working time regulations of 1998. A night worker cannot optout of the night work limit, the night work can be calculated over the 17 week reference period, but can be longer. Figure 5 show that the total level of working time flexibility, defined as the proportion of respondents reporting the possibility to adapt working hours within certain limits or reporting to determine working hours entirely, are much higher in the two service categories 70% and 64% respectively compared to all other categories. We look at the potential impact of the changes still to come the effect of losing the optout on uk industry three senior hr professionals explain how their industry would be affected if the ec were to remove. Doctors can opt out but must still take the wtds rest. The working time regulations 1998 came into force on 1st october 1998, and subsequently amended by the working time amendment regulations 2007, which came into force on 1st october 2007 when adopted in november 1993, the working time directive 93104ec excluded the air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway and lake transport, sea fishing, offshore work and the activities of. The night period is 11pm to 6am, unless the worker and employer agree a different night period.
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