Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

maylane — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 18:22:14 GMT

I went through this problem at my practice. The BVNA legal helpline were amazing, gave me all the advice I needed. Please call them, you can get differing advice and employers often interpret regulations to their advantage. You can't be made to work more than 48 hours a week You must get 11 hours rest between shifts and in a 24 hour period If you are required to be on the premises and available to work, you must be paid for the whole period, this includes overnight and breaks. My practice tried to wriggle out of the required rest breaks but there is no option for them but to comply. Good luck!

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 22:25:32 GMT

on-call time at home still doesn't strictly count as 'working time', but as far as I know, if you are expected to stay at work then it has to be counted. Thus you are entitled to statutory breaks:

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

Unfortunately our industry can fall into some of the exemptions, such as

the job needs round-the-clock staffing so there aren’t interruptions to any services or production (eg hospital work)

So that is how they 'get away with it'.

Unfortunately in our industry some employers will take the p**s and usually you just have to vote with your feet!

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Jaime Easton — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 19:03:08 GMT

You have to stay on the premises overnight and be on call, however they state that you "sleep between 12-7" however you could still be called out. You then have to work a normal working day, following your duty shift. I'm due to qualify next month so feel confident with my anaesthetics but not so much when I've not had much sleep!! I just don't understand how they're allowed to get away with it??

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 12:28:32 GMT

Sorry but I don't understand - are those long shifts spent entirely at work with no sleeping time? Or are you sleeping at work and therefore just on-call for some of it? (Not that 32 hours at work isn't a bit rubbish - just that a 32 hour shift with no sleep is dangerous for you and the animals!!!!)

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

emmadilemma — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 09:28:42 GMT

Dunno where you stand legally but in all the years i`ve worked as a nurse both day and night shifts, i`ve never been asked to do a 32 hour shift with only 2 hours break. Bum deal in my opinion

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Jaime Easton — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 22:33:13 GMT

I haven't signed any contract yet so unsure where I stand at the moment. I didn't state it properly but the 32 hours was over two days with two one hour breaks. I just get really confused with al this rota business!

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Steph Worsley — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 21:56:32 GMT

I read it that the OP was working from this monday till a week on Fri therefore 12 days, which means that out of those 2 weeks it averages out at 48 hours per week which is allowed without opting out of the working time directive. working on this there is a presumption on my part that there will be a minimum of 11 hours between shifts.

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

elaine elder — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 21:16:44 GMT

They can only do that if you have agreed in writing. You average working week according to the times regulation act should be 48 hrs. It can be 58 one week 38 the next but should average out to 48 hrs. You need to also have 11 hrs between shifts. You may have a bit in your contract that says you agree to work outside the times regulation act. But i think you still need to agree to it.

Re: Dreaded rota!!! Views please!

Steph Worsley — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 20:33:08 GMT

is that time including your lunch breaks?

32 hours seems to be a very reasonable amount of time to work as most places will be 35-40 hour weeks.

the 96 hour stint is that working tomorrow through till next Friday? To be honest technically it is still within the working time directive so it is perfectly legal.

when we work a weekend we work 12 days straight, on a good stint we will "work" 84 hours (plus 12 hours for lunch breaks - an hour every day) so technically will be in work the same length of time as you. on my worst weekends I've done a minimum of 92 hours actual working with 10 hours lunches during the 2 weeks (none at the weekends so actually in work for 102 hours) - I actually cannot remember what extra time I did in the 2 weeks surrounding the weekend.

In the past I have worked various patterns including 94 hours over 2 weeks including a weekend so to be honest I actually cannot see too much of a problem with those hours, other people might have different views to me though