Working Time

For more information on Working Timeclick here for the relevant chapter of the TUC guide to health and safety "Hazards at Work

The UK tops the European long hours league. And is the only country that allows staff to opt out of the 48-hour working week ceiling introduced across the European Union as a health and safety measure.

Those overworked are more stressed and less productive, liable to depression, strains and sprains and more exposed to the hazards of work. Working long hours makes for a work life imbalance that can wreck home life and personal relations.

Working when tired can be dangerous and possibly fatal - studies have found driving tired can be as dangerous as driving drunk.

Trade union initiatives aim to tackle the problem of long hours and redress the worklife imbalance. The TUC's It's about time campaign aims to put long hours and worklife balance at the top of the workplace agenda.

In 2004 TUC launched Work your proper hours day where workers were encouraged to take the lunch breaks they usually work through and leave for home at their contracted time.

Links

Hazards webpages on overwork

Union strategies to develop so work doesn't take over our lives

TUC Take a Break! Your working time rights

TUC It's about time campaign

TUC Changing Times, worklife balance webpages

The Working Time Regulations 1998

DTI Work-Life Balance Team


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Excessive working time causes depression

A new study has concluded that working long hours - regardless of job stress or satisfaction - increases the risk of depression.

PDF version available for download
3 February 2012
UK still high in the long hours league

UK workers remain amond the most overworked in Europe, new official statistics indicate.

PDF version available for download
16 December 2011
Unite warning on haulage dangers

The government must act to protect Britain's 300,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers from excessive hours and other abuses, transport union Unite has said.

PDF version available for download
25 November 2011
Coach firm fined over drivers' hours

A Middlesex coach company has been fined £137,500 after being found guilty of abusing drivers' hour's regulations.

PDF version available for download
15 July 2011
Growth of homeworking stalled during recession

The growth of homeworking stalled during the recent recession, the TUC says in a new analysis of official figures to mark National Work From Home Day today (Friday), which is organised by Work Wise UK.

20 May 2011
Europe: Working longer requires better working

The improvement of working conditions throughout a worker's career is 'a necessary condition' to enable workers to continue to work for as long as possible, a European think tank has concluded.

PDF version available for download
25 March 2011



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