Basic rights of Working Time Regulations act 1998
-Paid annual leave
-an average of 48 hr working week limit
-limit of 8 hrs (average) work in a 24hr period for night workers
-11 hrs rest in a 24hr period
-24 hrs rest per week
-rest breaks for 6+ hrs work
Annual leave entitlement
5.6 weeks paid leave per annum for a full time worker working 5 days per week, 28 days.
Includes bank holiday.
Equates to 4 weeks and 8 days public holidays
Part time workers have same annual leave rights on a pro-rata basis
Workers in long term sick are entitled to paid holidays
48 hr week, over what period is it averaged over
Previous 17 weeks
Night workers: what are the specifics
Nighttime is specified as between 11pm-6am
A night worker must work at least 3hrs within this time ‘as normal’ to be classified as a night worker
Employer must offer a free health assessment before a worker starts nights and then at regular intervals
Weekly rest periods, what are adult workers entitled to?
- uninterrupted rest period of no less than 24 hrs in each 7 days
-this can consist of 2X24 or 1X48
-can be modified by agreement but compensatory rest should be provided
-Employers must make sure workers take their rest periods
In a 6 hour shift, an adult worker is entitled to
-rest break no less than 20 mins
-taken during work time
-not at beginning or end of shift
Exceptions
-worker under 18, limit of 40 hrs per week
-where 24 hr staffing required
-armed forces, emergency services or police
-in security and surveillance
-as a domestic servant in private household
-a seafarer, sea-fisherman, worker on vessels on inland waterways
-where working time is not measured and you are in control, eg: managing executive
Which workers CANNOT opt out of wtr
-Airline staff
-worker on ships/boats
-worker in road transport industry
-security guard on vehicle carrying high value goods
