EC TO FORCE BRITAIN ON WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE

The EEC has taken a decision to force the UK to fully implement the European Working Time directive. Britain has an opt-out until next January (Jan 03) for certain workers. In particular, white-collar staff and those who partly work unmeasured time, especially where there are no contractual hours. These employees also do not have to measure their rest breaks.

The opt-out, negotiated by Prime Minister John Major, is set to cease on 31st December 2002. The EC have given the Government until the end of May 2002 to toughen up the regulations; or face further action taken against it. The Government has not responded and will now be forced to implement the legislation in full by 1st January 2003.

Employers who are thinking about Attendance Monitoring for their office staff should contact Tensor now. The Directive provides a fairly complex set of employment rules that govern the number of hours an employee can work which ultimately dictates the way all companies must operate. For example, to comply with the Directive, did you know that you need to provide time and attendance verification of working rules to ensure that?

Shift breaks are taken where more than 6 hours are worked. There are different rules for different categories of young workers

Groups of employees working shifts have to be ensured a minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24 hours.

Groups of employees working shifts have to be ensured a minimum rest period of 24 consecutive hours per 7 days.

Shifts for night work are limited to an average of 8 hours work per 24 hours for a defined reference period.

Weekly average (17 week average!) hours do not exceed 48 hours per 7 days for a definable reference period not greater than 4 month. (Annual leave and sickness are not included in this average calculation).

Tensor have complete systems that start from £1,495 and they all have special EEC Working Time Directive software to help you stay within the law.