3rd April 2006, 05:17 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
compulsary overtime is presently legal, if stated in the conditions of work. So really, you know what you are getting into. Whether or not it is moral or 'right' is another matter....
However, the amount of hours that you can be expected to work beyond 48 is averaged over 17 weeks (or in exceptional circumstances over 26 or 52 weeks). A quick calculation (17 weeks x 48 hours) gives a working limit of 816 hours in any 17 week period.
When archaeological companies advertise jobs with compulsory overtime ( a recent example was a 40 hour week and 24 hours compulsory overtime) they need to offset the weekly hours against the 816-hour limit. In my example that would mean anyone working a continuous 64-hour week would 'use up' their 'limit-hours' part way through week 13. If an employer 'forced' employees to work beyond their '816 hours in 17 weeks' limit, they would be in breach of the law. Employers are obliged to keep records of hours worked by employees.
On the subject of 7 day working. Employees are entitled to one day off each week, 11 hours consecutive rest per day and a minimum of a 20 minute rest break if their working day is longer than six hours. These rights cannot be waived. An employer asking employees to work for 7 consecutive days is in breach of the law.
An interesting test case might be made of the 11 hours consecutive rest period. Does travelling to and from work for example count as a 'work' period or 'rest' period?