48 Hour Working Week

[panda]

Does anybody know when this opt out is due to be taken from our employers statutory rights of employment, my union rep said its under review,with an announcement by 31/03/05.After that they cannot offer the opt out and everyone is on 48 hrs per week .Can anybody please advise

[Argus]

I thought that I had posted this before, but it doesn't sem to have got through......

For the official line on working time see the link below.

http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr0.htm

Check the details in section 2. In short, you can offer to work all the hours God created if you want to, but you cannot be forced to.
The minimum rest periods are statutory and must be adhered to regardless.
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iolite reviews

[Latte]

Hi Argos,

All the finer points have yet to be finalised however this directive will mean you cannot be CONTRACTED to work more that 48 hours.

Many people first thought when the government and EU were considering this that it put a top end limit on everyones hours.

This clearly wouldn't work even if there were exemptions for doctors/nurses ect.

You will never be limited to doing 70 hours a week if you want to, it just means your'e company cannot contract you to do more that 48 or whatever he final figure turns out to be.


Don't worry there is an election next year, i can't see much legislation getting done on time.


Regards

Raymond