Time between shifts

VFR_KID · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:24

Does anyone know what the legal minimum amount of time between shifts is? I working until 10pm on Wednesday night on what is basically first line support nothing hard to be honest. and want to change my shift on the Thursday to 8-4 so i can go do something at night, however the work are saying i must give 12 hours between shifts i thought it was ten what is the correct answer, Either way i couldn't care its a load of nonsense I've done worse.

Masterdog · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:27

I've done that before and been allowed - I think the legal minimum is 8 hours, but your work might have its own rules.

apeZ · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:29

Masterdog said:
I've done that before and been allowed - I think the legal minimum is 8 hours, but your work might have it's own rules.

Doesn't it depend entirely how long you did the shift for?

Deep · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:29

I'm certain that its 11 hours

VFR_KID · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:30

They are ones for playing it bythe book and always present legal facts and stuff, such as under 18 year olds cant do overtime, cant work past 11pm, must have there 2days off together not like a monday and friday like i do, but im 21 not in any form of other employment so cant see the problem i have done it before and no one has batted an eye.

Edit; The shift i will be doing is 8 hours just a standard shift i dont do overtime as its paid at same rate as normal shift so dnt see the point.

Nursie · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:31

Deep said:
I'm certain that its 11 hours

Correct to the best of my knowledge.

it's part of the working time directive form the EU iirc

Dano · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:32

They're just watching their own backs, can't really fault them for it to be honest.

Ascendancy · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:34

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/what_minimum_rest_period_should_there_be said:
Most adult workers covered by the Working Time Regulations are entitled to a rest from work of at least 11 hours in every 24 hours.

However, in some cases defined by the Working Time Regulations (1998) the rest break can be delayed as long as compensatory rest is allowed later on.

Young workers aged 16 and 17 are entitled to 12 uninterrupted hours in each 24-hour period in which they work.

VFR_KID · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:35

Cheers guys, I will present this evidence to them tomorow, as imo overclockers are always right.

neodude · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:35

It is 11 hours. But I believe you can opt out using a form that will drop the minimum to 8 hours, but they can't force it on you.

Masterdog · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:37

Reading that there's quite a few things my job didn't offer (maximum of 8 hours night work, for example - mine was 9 and occasionally 10). I'm wondering if emergency services have some sort of opt-out.

ScoobyDoo · 13 Oct 2008 at 18:06

Masterdog said:
Reading that there's quite a few things my job didn't offer (maximum of 8 hours night work, for example - mine was 9 and occasionally 10). I'm wondering if emergency services have some sort of opt-out.

Emergency services seem to be excempt from the 11hr law. Although i think if we insisted on telling our line managers we were having the 11hrs theres not a lot they can do about it. It normally only happens if we need to work over and incur overtime but ive known it where ive only had 5hrs between shifts.

Snograt · 13 Oct 2008 at 18:37

On the Underground the minimum rest period between shifts is 12 hours. This can be dropped to 8 hours in "exceptional circumstances." Cue lots of arguments as to what constitutes an exceptional circumstance...

Von Smallhausen · 13 Oct 2008 at 18:59

It's 11 hours and on the old shift pattern I used to work I used to finish at 21:30 and be back in for an early shift at 05:30.

The other quick change was to finish at 06:30 and be back in for 13:30.