Double shifts and the law
 

I'm thinking of doing a double shift at work to make some time free for a wedding I have to go for. Am I forbidden by law to do a double shift? Will be starting 7am-6pm then 8pm-5am.

Some I have asked say it's against the law, others say it's against the law to be made to do double shifts but individuals can choose to do them.

I can't throw a sickie, swap with anyone else or take any holiday days.

I think you can choose, when I worked in IT I ocassionally worked from 8am one day to 10am the following day. That was a 26hr shift, but it was a few years ago.

Dont you have to have a 12 hour break between shifts? Working time directive or something? :wonder:

There are legal issues if you drive for a living.

I'm a line supervisor using printing equipment. There's lots of moving machinery but not driving involved. I thought too that there has to be a break between shifts, but someone told me there's an option of opt-out. I can't find any conclusive proof one way or the other.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/w...edirective.htm

Cheers
Lee

Cheers Lee.

Daily rest
10. - (1) An adult worker is entitled to a rest period of not less than eleven consecutive hours in each 24-hour period during which he works for his employer.


22. - (1) Subject to regulation 24 -



(a) regulation 10(1) does not apply in relation to a shift worker when he changes shift and cannot take a daily rest period between the end of one shift and the start of the next one;

These are the relevent points. That says to me I can do the double? Says workers are entitled but it doesn't say mandatory. I can't see anything specific to opt out vis a vis the individual worker.

I run a team doing shift and they have to sign a form which wavers the european regulations..... As long as they take breaks at the correct times we're complying with the current laws.

Taken from a guidance document we received when the Working Time Regs were introduced (though hasn't been updated for any amendments since 1998):

John.

Royal Mail is 10 hours between shifts break by law.
Drivers are just about to have there driving time severly reduced, not sure by how much, but our distribution managers are panicking trying to plan around it :(
Not allowed to work more than 14 hours in a 24 hour period either here.

Just done my double shift. Thankfully nobody twigged that I was doing it!
Thanks for the replies lads.

Lucky you didn't have an accident then, otherwise your manager could be facing prosecution :(