How Many Days Can You Work?

panthro · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:41

Hi All

Just asking the question because my younger brother has been asked by his work, to work 13 days straight. He starts at 9 and finishes at 6. Its for a computer game shop. He usually works Mon-Sat with Sun off, but they want to make him work a Sunday. Is this legal? I feel sorry for him because he has to drive a fair distance there and run the shop by himself.

chippie · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:49

How old is he?

triggerthat · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:52

I'll be like, NO.

panthro · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:53

chippie said:
How old is he?

20

benjo plz. · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:54

I can't even work one tbh. He should be payed more on the Sunday, and the Sunday Trading Act (I think thats the one) says he's only allowed to work a certain number of hours on a Sunday.

SideWinder · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:56

Did he have the chance to decline it? Will he be getting a few days off AFTER the 13 days work? Does he want to work the extra hours?

Jimmeh · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:58

Perfectly legal at his age. I've worked for 3 weeks straight before - allowing for a specific number of hours per day.

He ought to have a choice in the matter though - so if he doesn't want to do it, he doesn't have to.

panthro · 18 Mar 2006 at 18:58

SideWinder said:
Did he have the chance to decline it? Will he be getting a few days off AFTER the 13 days work? Does he want to work the extra hours?

I dont think he has a choice, but I told him that they cannot force him to do anything. They will give him the Monday off after the 13 day stint. Not really much for 13 solid days worth of work.

SideWinder · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:00

panthro said:
I dont think he has a choice, but I told him that they cannot force him to do anything. They will give him the Monday off after the 13 day stint. Not really much for 13 solid days worth of work.

How could he not have a choice..surely its overtime? Example, i get asked at work if i want to work some overtime and i usually accept or just agree to do x amount. They're not his contracted hours so they can't force him yes..

benjo plz. · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:00

How bigs the shop? is it part of a chain or is it just a small independant shop?

Glaucus · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:01

yes he can work as many days as he likes. However they can't force him to do it. Unles sits contracted hours(which it's not) also by european law he doesn't have to work more than 48hrs.. So its up2 him.. Accept it or decline it.

Jake 2.0 · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:04

yeah i agree with 48 hours thing, so if they make him work, he should refuse without fear of dismissal! (contact CAB if he wants to)

good luck!

panthro · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:05

AcidHell2 said:
yes he can work as many days as he likes. However they can't force him to do it. Unles sits contracted hours(which it's not) also by european law he doesn't have to work more than 48hrs.. So its up2 him.. Accept it or decline it.

I was thinking the same regarding the law where you are not obliged to work more than 48 hours a week. Its an independent chain of stores, around 8 or 9 in the south east. He is also worried that if he was to decline it,they could fire him. I told him that that is not reasonable grounds for dismissal.

Glaucus · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:13

panthro said:
I was thinking the same regarding the law where you are not obliged to work more than 48 hours a week. Its an independent chain of stores, around 8 or 9 in the south east. He is also worried that if he was to decline it,they could fire him. I told him that that is not reasonable grounds for dismissal.

No they cann't fire him. (unles he's still in his 6month trial period, if the company has such a thing). However it mnight be worth negotating a goodd pay rise for that day or maybe 3days off at the end or something. Keep them happy but get something back..

kibblerok · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:15

I've done 28 days straight before... to be fair once you get into it, its not that hard, the most tiring part was finding the energy to go back after a day off

wolvotim · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:19

Think there’s no legal maximum for hours/days worked in a week/month (yet). The only legislation we have in this country is that there must be at least 9 hours between shifts.

Don’t think its gona be long until the European working time directive comes into force. If I remember correctly I think it says that a contracted working week should not exceed 48 hours, overtime should not exceed 50 hours a month and workers are entitled to a minimum uninterrupted rest period of 24 hours a week plus 11 hours daily rest.

PeterNem · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:24

13 days is no big deal. I can't see what the problem is. I've worked more than that, and longer hours too, when I've needed cash.

panthro · 18 Mar 2006 at 19:26

PeterNem said:
13 days is no big deal. I can't see what the problem is. I've worked more than that, and longer hours too, when I've needed cash.

Thats your choice. The problem is, is that he doesnt want to do it, but does not want to risk being blackmarked with his superiors.

lozza · 18 Mar 2006 at 22:30

Check out the DTI web site Here and Here

PeterNem · 18 Mar 2006 at 22:44

panthro said:
The problem is, is that he doesnt want to do it, but does not want to risk being blackmarked with his superiors.

Then tell him not to work it.

While he can't be officially blackmarked, he may find that in future if they need to lay people off due to financial difficulties they just happen to get rid of the ones who are less helpful to them. What goes around comes around and all that.