Euro MP starts campaign to cut long working hours
Euro MP starts campaign to cut long working hours
A report claiming Britain's long working hours lead to an unhealthy, unproductive workforce has been launched by Green MEP for London Jean Lambert. Mrs Lambert, vice-chair of the Green Party in the European Parliament and co-ordinator of the committee on employment and social affairs, called on the UK government to end the UK opt-out option from the working time directive's 48 hour working week ceiling. She said: "We are now seeing record levels of sick leave due to long hours and stress. Sadly the British work culture is such that stress is seen as a weakness and so instead of being treated gets worse, costing both the individual and the business.' Mrs Lambert said that long hours were part of showing a commitment to your job and that most people were either pressured into signing the form which waived employees' right to refuse to work more than 48 hours a week or did not realise what they were signing. 'The Greens simply argue that the UK adheres to a maximum 48-hour week and, where intensive work has occurred, the employee is given compensatory rest through time off,' she added.
- Jean Lambert MEP news release. I must work harder? Britain and the working time directive [pdf]. This is local London.
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox