Our Company has just published the EU ruling about the travel industry not being exempt from the 48 hour week, and guess what, guys and gals, flight crew and cabin crew are not included!!
That means all the musing over the 17 weeks average max nix, we all have to carry on as before!!! Amazing aint it.
This is what my Company have sent out to everyone:-
7 August 2003
Employment Law Update - Working Time Regulations - August 2003.
As you may already be aware the Working Time Regulations have been amended to include the transport sector from the 1st August 2003 and this means that we now need to adhere to the rules set out in them.
The regulations have been extended to cover non-mobile transport workers, which means Flight Deck and Cabin Crew are not affected by the changes. However, all other areas of the business must comply with the regulations.
The HR team have already audited each area to check whether we need to make any changes to our working practices and where we have identified issues they are currently being addressed in conjunction with the line management of the department.
The regulations are in place to ensure that you get enough time off and breaks from work. The main rules of the act are:
Ø A limit to an average of 48 hours a week (excluding breaks) that you can be required to work. (You can however choose to work more hours.)
Ø Working time is calculated over 17 weeks, so you can do more than 48 hours in one week, just not when it is averaged out over 17 weeks.
Ø A right to eleven hours rest each day
Ø A right to a day off each week
Ø A limit to an average of 8 hours work in each 24 which night workers can be expected to work
Ø A right to free health assessments for night workers
Ø A right to 4 weeks paid holiday each year.