"i am willing to work more than 48hours"

Glaucus · 13 Feb 2011 at 22:46

It's an average, so doesn't matter if you go over 1 week.

Vonhelmet · 13 Feb 2011 at 22:54

AcidHell2 said:
It's an average, so doesn't matter if you go over 1 week.

That so?

Good to know.

Kutter · 13 Feb 2011 at 23:00

Used to work 100+ hrs when i was out shopfitting. I even worked from 7am until 1am when we did a Nevada Bobs in Aberdeen then we drove back to lancashire. I guess it all depends on the job your doing. If i was working in a supermarket, hell no. In my last job i was averaging about 60 hrs a week.

Glaucus · 13 Feb 2011 at 23:04

vonhelmet said:
That so?

Good to know.

Adult workers cannot be forced to work more than 48 hours a week on average - this is normally averaged over 17 weeks. You can work more than 48 hours in one week, as long as the average over 17 weeks is less than 48 hours per week.

panthro · 13 Feb 2011 at 23:04

I remember thinking the same thing when I signed my contract for a job I once had, had no idea what it meant! 48 hours a week is not a lot. Its above average but its not a lot. Ive been working a contracted 60 hours a week for the last 2 years and I would class that as a lot.

Savvy · 13 Feb 2011 at 23:34

beamer said:
Get proof then whistle blow to either the local newspapers or Daily Mail / Sun. It will be interesting to see which position of those tabloids - racist or anti-worker - wins out ;O)

I will name n shame guilty parties, wanting definate proof this is going on there are other activities well as this

wnb · 14 Feb 2011 at 00:19

You should try being self employed, think your self lucky that you have a choice. Sometimes I do wonder if it is worth it. On call 24\7 365 days a year, no guarenteed holidays, no overtime pay, no double time for bank holidays.

beamer · 14 Feb 2011 at 00:25

These employment agencies are the very definition of parasites. They are as near to slave masters as the modern day laws allow them to be. I would love to hear more.

I put them in the same bucket as estate agents, politicians and bankers.

Savvy said:
I will name n shame guilty parties, wanting definate proof this is going on there are other activities well as this

elmuzzy66. · 14 Feb 2011 at 01:57

ive opted out of it, would have got the job without it. Doesn't bother me as ive got a 42hr work week but sometimes work 52hr without overtime payements.

memyselfandi · 14 Feb 2011 at 06:43

When we were asked to sign it at work I didn't do so. My average working week is ~40hrs (contracted is ~37) and to up this average to over the 48hrs limit over the 17 weeks is highly unlikely as I'm no longer oncall.

Greebo · 14 Feb 2011 at 07:43

wnb said:
You should try being self employed, think your self lucky that you have a choice. Sometimes I do wonder if it is worth it. On call 24\7 365 days a year, no guarenteed holidays, no overtime pay, no double time for bank holidays.

Yes but at least (in theory) you get the return for what you put in. If you work 80 hours a week, I presume you charge somebody 80 hours that week.

Now, if you are saying that as self employed you work 60 to 70 hours a week but only charge somebody for 40 hours of your time, I suggest your business model is broken.

Dabbles · 14 Feb 2011 at 07:47

P_A_N_I_C said:
we signed the waiver to accomodate our on-call system. don't think it said about the 48hours, it did say that we were agreeing to an 8 hour rest between working days, so this means it's ok for us to work a 112 hour week (7 days) :/ then another 5 days of the same until we get a day off.

You have to have 11 hours between shifts by law.

See here.

Pookie Bear · 14 Feb 2011 at 10:32

Greebo said:
I'm a bit out of touch but so long as you can give 7 days notice to opt out of the opt out, I would sign it as it would increase your chances of getting the job.

Just for the record, that 7 day notice period can increase to up to three months if stated in the agreement. Read what you sign.

vonhelmet said:
That so?

Good to know.

Yes, it's all about the average.

Dabbles said:
You have to have 11 hours between shifts by law.

See here.

The 48 hour working week is the only part of the Working Time Directive that you can sign out of. The rest are rights and entitlements which cannot technically be signed away.

I think it's important to note that shorter than 11 hour daily rest periods can be justified by the provision of compensatory rest later and, for some industries (such as those which require 24 hour service), this rest period may not be not applicable.

jonneymendoza · 14 Feb 2011 at 20:44

point is. my company would not deny my application if i do not agree to work more than 48hours

elh_2009 · 14 Feb 2011 at 20:58

PardonTheWait said:
There's got to be a line somewhere though. 48 hours a week IS a lot.

In the UK we're used to, if we're honest, working too much. We put more hours in that most places on average.

For a 'joe job', more than 48 hours a week is definitely too much. I'll put more than that in if I need to, but it's worth it for me, if I was a minimum wage type, why would I? tbh though even if I work six days, which I do if I need to (I did this week) I'm still below it. I get the day back as well (and if I don't get it back, my boss will ring me up and tell me off for not getting it back, and make sure that I do - I'm salaried). Work life balance in this country is complete crap for a lot of people.

It's right that this is in place. Don't want to do it, don't sign it, and you're not able to be abused about it. If you're happy with it, sign it, work as many hours as you want.

It's fair.

Agree with the bit in red, its a joke the hours some people are expected to do, i get paied for overtime but will not overwork myself, i may do a couple of hours here and there and maybe go in early if it helps, im contracted to a 8hour day and theres now way im doin a extra 4 or so hours a day, screw that. I see the stress people get and whats the point? most of the time you dont get no better thought off, not in big companys anyway. Just a number, thats all most people are, just a number making big bucks for someone else, sign it if you want, i did, but only do the hours your happy with.

bitslice · 14 Feb 2011 at 21:02

What's the point of making up laws like this, if employers just expect you to sign away your rights anyway?
Sign here if you consent to beaten with rubber hoses, or the dole queue is over there.

DBT85 · 14 Feb 2011 at 21:05

I signed it but I get overtime. Working 84 hours a week is a piece of **** anyway if you enjoy the work and are good at it. Plus seeing your paypacket when you have been offered and accepted 140 hours of overtime in one month is SWEEET.

Mucky_Pup · 14 Feb 2011 at 21:09

Mine's in my contract that I've signed out of the WTD and need 6 weeks notice to opt back in, I worked 37 hours last week, plus 26 hours overtime.

eddiemcgarrigle · 14 Feb 2011 at 21:24

My workplace is getting a bit iffy too. Changed the holiday entitlements and gave us extra time off but are forcing us to pay back the extra days throughout the year to cover abscences.

I work four days on and four off (well three off considering I've worked 8 hours of the first 'rest' day) and this amounts to 48 hours over 8 days but they are now having us pay back days by working our two middle off days (stil with me?) which means working 114 hours over 12 days.