Too many hours? Who protects Operations staff?

[Silver Star]

Does anyone know who protects Operations Staff if they ar made seriously ill from working too many hours. Seems theres a bit of a loop hole with just about every other industry being covered.

Working time directive does not apply apparently.

A friend is just about to be hospitalised after working being forced to work over seventy hours per week for two years. Finally had a breakdown a few months ago.

Any info would be appreciated

Thanks

[VIKING9]

Without sounding too harsh, nobody can be forced to work 70 hrs a week without suitable rest time afterwards. There's a thing called employment law that dictates how much time is allowed to be worked. I assume your friend signed a contract when they joined this company? If not, Mmmmm, well I'd say they don't have a leg to stand on if it came to seeking compensation or anything like that...... Sorry to be so negative in my reply but it sounds to me like your friend agreed to this and is now suffering as a consequence.

[Big Tudor]

Viking 9,

There are ways and means for employers to 'force' an individual to work more hours than contracted. Phrases such as
Your contracted hours are 40 per week, however you will be required to work such extra hours as may be required.
Aviation is currently excluded from the EU working time directive which sets maximum limits on the amount of hours an individual can be expected to work. I believe this is due to change in the near future and we will be brought in line with other industries.
Working for small or start up operators is never easy. It is very easy to fall into the trap of working that bit extra 'to keep the company going', particularly if your boss is a 18 hour a day person. However, once you have started down that road it is very difficult to return.

Silver Star - get your friend to consult with a solicitor who specialises in employment law, especially in relation ot the contract they signed. If they are a member of a trade union then this service should come either free or at a reduced fee.

[VIKING9]

If the contract states "40 hours but you will be required to work extra hours as required"..... 40 hrs is the minimum and any extra would be covered by overtime or days off in lieu. Beyond that 40 hr mark is NOT compulsary and no employer can just assume that the extra hours will be covered.

I think you would agree that to be expected to work 70hrs per week, every week, requires a re-think on the part of the contract and general working conditions of the company. This company IS in breach of the employment law as I'm sure any union would agree.

Seek the real advice from a lawyer, or the CAB for starters.

[Spitoon]

For what it's worth, the Working Time Directive will apply to the aviation sector in full next year. Aviation workers are exempt from certain regulations only, albeit they were the really important ones.

Lots of useful information here (http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/).

[boredcounter]

We all cash in on overtime, but the case quoted is beyond belief.
Forget contracts and directives, this chap would be on his KNEES.
About to be hospitalised, Balls, he/she would be signed off.
W I N D U P. Sorry, but that is the way I see it....................Over two Years?

[canberra]

is this the whole story? 70 hours a week for 2 years! i dont know about anyone else but having worked a 4 watch for years which is 48 hours a week was bad enough but 70! if its true then the company should be named and shamed.

[VIKING9]

Mmmmm how many hours OFF did this person get after working 70hrs? The FULL story might help......

[CainanUK]

My scheduled working week is 53 hours a week. I work six on and three off. That being said, with overtime, I work probably close to 70 a week. Generally, I will only work one of my three off days and even then, it is either my first or third, always making sure I have at least 48 consecutive hours off. Yes I am tired, but if you pace yourself, it is not too terribly bad.

[arthur harbrow]

A few years ago when i had a temp job at LHR there was an employee of an Indian sub continent airline who i think had worked more or less non stop for years.
Eventually it killed him.His wife and family were going to sue the
airline.I never did find out the outcome.

[MilOps]

When I was one the Duty Operations Controllers at RAF Benson a few years ago we were working 3 days 3 nights 3 off. As you can see we worked 72 hours with effectively 2 whole days off as your first down day was a sleeping day. Needless to say a few months of this and we were all feeling the strain, so 70 hour weeks over 2 years really does beg further information. If however this was indeed the case I take my hat off to him as he obviously has the stamina of a stallion.

[FOMere2eternity]

What Mil means is:

3 days of 0800-1200, lunch, 1300-1700 = 24
3 night of 1630-0100ish, sleep til 0630, handover at 0730 = 28.30
3 days off

52.30 divided by 9 days = 5.81hr per day = 40.6hrs per 7 days.

Bearing in mind that during the '6 shift', sleeping after flying allowed for 3 days off, combined with the 3 days off granted at the end, he worked a 1 day week of just under 6hrs. :p

[canberra]

milops ive worked a 3 watch system as well, although i was at leuchars not benson so we actually worked 7 days unlike bensons 5! but enough bitching, we didnt work a 3 watch for 2 years. as i said on my early post is this the whole story? if it is true then the company should be named and shamed.

[MilOps]

FOMere2,
Mate you must really try much harder than that to get a worthwhile bite out of me. Anyway matey hows things, and have you approached Canberra about the Oggies, I get this feeling that he may be interested and what with you being on an Oggie Sqn you may ba able to advise.

See ya'll

[FOMere2eternity]

Mil

Not sure what you mean about oggie sqn, but please be careful what well-intentioned signposts you leave for people to ID me !