Opting out of the 48 hour work week limit

Vanilla

Vanilla

Vanilla

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So i'm in the process of joining a new company.

In the pack i've been given is the Waiver to the working time regulations act. The act states that you shouldn't have to work more than 48 hours a week.

Signing this form means i'm saying that I don't mind waiving the right to work more than 48 hours a week.

I can understand why those who get overtime would want to sign such a form but for people on a salary I can't see any benefit in signing this??

Anyone else been presented with such a forum?

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An update.

I opted to sign the waiver. I'm a full time salaried employee but my work often involves way beyond the 48 hour week....but i'm paid very well for it overall.

Additionally I would have had to do timesheets so they are aware of my hours. If I were truthful with these then they would involve management around my working hours being excessive.....which would be a case of 'join the club'.
 
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Talk to them and ask, it may be that are just covering themselves or they could be being sneaky and expect you to work silly hours.
 
Vanilla said:
but for people on a salary I can't see any benefit in signing this??
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dont sign it then!

it does have its uses though. i work 5 days out of 7 but have used it to swap shifts around when i have wanted more than 2 days off together. for example working 7 out of 7 one week so i could do 3 out of 7 the next week.
 
Every company i've worked for have hated me. I make sure of it.

I refuse to do any extra hours. I dont care if it's double pay, triple pay or what ever they want to offer. I've no interest.


But yea talk to them. They may want you to do some extra hours.
 
Well, I worked 10am yesterday until 2am today with no ill feelings - but haven't signed a form to opt out of working regulation. It's hard to imagine it matters whether you sign it or not.
 
I sign out roughly twice a year because I know i'm going to be especially busy (no OT etc). I don't mind and tend to do a lot of my extra work from home or when travelling which also counts, getting a bit of a break is the most important thing really.

Up to you if you don't want to waive it, it should really be your choice I guess.

With regards to the above the waiver wouldn't make a difference there anyway - you're into a different element of WTD
 
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I'm on a salary with no overtime and my contract also opts out of it. It's part of the job, my hours can be all over the place especially when I am travelling.

If you are joining a new company then there is no point rocking the boat before you start and highlighting the fact you'll only do the bare minimum. At least see how it pans out. I suspect they are just covering themselves as it's EU legislation.
 
I have always just binned those when given them, no one has ever asked me about it afterwards.
I think they are standard issue. If I was hourly paid however things might be different. :)
 
I'd bin it on a salary, it's an opt out form - not compulsory.

Just say you are willing to do reasonable over-time but don't wish to opt out (assuming that's how you feel).

Personally, I'd never sign one.

I'm on a salary & do over-time when it's needed (deadlines, new products, competitor activity or other unexpected events) - but I don't classify my department being understaffed as a qualifier for it being needed, that's a resource issue & not my problem.

Many companies use staff willing to do over-time as a cover for being understaffed & it should be avoided (as time spent in over-time is usually less productive, along with the increase in chance of having people go off on long-term stress it's not really beneficial).

I'll do one persons job to the best of my ability, but I'm not going to do two peoples jobs for the same pay as one.
 
My company doesn't allow for opting out and expects everyone to have at least 1 rest day a week.

The 48 hour maximum week is an average over 17 weeks, I believe it's 17, and if you do opt out you can opt back in whenever you want. I actually think it's one of the better laws brought in by Europe
 
Vanilla said:
This is what i'm going to do, just not send it back to them in the pack.

Chances are i'll probably work longer than 48 hours a week....but signing a waiver has no benefit to me :)
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Problem is, if you don't sign the waiver and end up working over 48hrs a week your company is breaking the law - even if you don't mind. They'd probably like to avoid that.
 
Fulax said:
Problem is, if you don't sign the waiver and end up working over 48hrs a week your company is breaking the law - even if you don't mind. They'd probably like to avoid that.
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Voluntary unpaid overtime doesn't count towards your working time - so the only reason to sign it, if not paid overtime, is for compulsory unpaid overtime.
 
Vanilla said:
So i'm in the process of joining a new company.

In the pack i've been given is the Waiver to the working time regulations act. The act states that you shouldn't have to work more than 48 hours a week.

Signing this form means i'm saying that I don't mind waiving the right to work more than 48 hours a week.

I can understand why those who get overtime would want to sign such a form but for people on a salary I can't see any benefit in signing this??

Anyone else been presented with such a forum?
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Depending on the job you may be expected to do more than 48hrs a week
 
Sho said:
Every company i've worked for have hated me. I make sure of it.

I refuse to do any extra hours. I dont care if it's double pay, triple pay or what ever they want to offer. I've no interest.


But yea talk to them. They may want you to do some extra hours.
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A great attitude to. Have if you don't want promotions and don't want glowing references.
 
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