Anybody else getting grief for exceeding 70 hours?

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 12 Nov 2016, 16:52

Do you mean you work more than 70 hours in a WEEK? Are you mad?

Who is it thats giving you grief? Managers? Isn't it them that ask you to do the overtime in the first place?

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 12 Nov 2016, 16:54

I was forced to stop working over 70 hrs back in the 90s - pre my RM employment when it became the law in UK. I'm surprised it has taken RM quite so long to catch up with the rest of the land!

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 12 Nov 2016, 17:05

I forgot to add, there is a loophole to the law - if you're self-employed that rule doesn't apply so you could give up RM and work for Amazon maybe - I reckon you'd need to work over 70 hrs to get a living wage at their rate!

doorstepped · Post by **doorstepped** » 12 Nov 2016, 17:05

you will be ok next month, the limit is 80 hours in December for OPG's and 65 hours for Managers.

Nigel1505 · Post by **Nigel1505** » 12 Nov 2016, 18:14

[quote="you will be ok next month, the limit is 80 hours in December for OPG's and 65 hours for Managers.[/quote]

That's good, 39hrs. is enough for me.

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 12 Nov 2016, 18:30

doorstepped wrote:you will be ok next month, the limit is 80 hours in December for OPG's and 65 hours for Managers.

I don't see how Xmas can be an exception. They are stating 70 hours as being a limit out of health & safety reasons.

Honestly we graft for them and only get grief back, but Xmas comes around and the rules go out the window.

plaguelift · Post by **plaguelift** » 12 Nov 2016, 19:29

It's European law, and has been for quite some time. Your employer is not allowed to make you work over 70 hours in a week. It's to protect the employee. Some in our office used to work a few hours over the 70 at Christmas time but the manager spread the time out over the next few weeks so as the 70 hour threshold wasnt broken (he shouldn't have, but it keeps everyone happy). Your manager would be breaking European law (and can get Royal Mail in proper deep doo doo) if he puts you through for 70+ hours.

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 12 Nov 2016, 19:59

70 hrs why do you want to do more ? , ill just stick to my 39 hr .

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 12 Nov 2016, 20:04

It's not law though.

If you've signed an opt-out to work more than 48 hours a week there is no defined limit on how many hours you can work - https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can’t work more than 48 hours a week on average - normally averaged over 17 weeks. This law is sometimes called the ‘working time directive’ or ‘working time regulations’.

You can choose to work more by opting out of the 48-hour week.

As for having an 11 hour rest period between shifts, that falls under GB domestic driving rules and *only* applies if you drive for more than 4 hours a day which most posties don't - https://www.gov.uk/drivers-hours/gb-domestic-rules" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Exemptions to the GB domestic rules
The GB Domestic rules don’t apply if you:

drive for less than 4 hours in any day

The only thing that makes any mention of there being a cap on hours is The Way Forward Agreement 2000, as referred to by Dingo himself - http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 82#p701166" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 12 Nov 2016, 20:09

Maybe I'm wrong then. I had 2 full time jobs back when this EU law came into force in UK and I was legally obliged to cut one job to part time hours so as not to be breaking the law. I did explore every avenue at the time and the only way I could have got round it was to have become self-employed.

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 12 Nov 2016, 20:20

Doesn't matter if the law is correct or not, if your employer isn't prepared to let you work more than a set amount of hours then that's their choice. As long as they apply the limit to everyone i can't see any way around it.

I'd guess it's a national thing as it's been highlighted in our office, told it's our responsibility to keep track of overtime worked and if you exceed the hours you may be barred from future overtime.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 12 Nov 2016, 21:08

yeah i heard its a national guideline too, and have seen notices for managers who are instructed not to allow anyone over 70hrs per week, so its not your local managers fault really. If you go over 70 hours they get in trouble simple as that, so they are warning you that they will conduct code you to illustrate how serious they are about not wanting you to go over 70hrs. I dont know the reason or have an opinion on whether the rule is right or wrong, just know that i have seen that is what the upper managerment at RM want.

EDIT oh i see above that its an EU law, so its pretty simple really that they will enforce it.

nickbsmooth · Post by **nickbsmooth** » 12 Nov 2016, 21:19

Jeez I'm reluctant to work more than my 32hr contract. Infact I'd rather go hungry than work more than that.

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 12 Nov 2016, 21:46

Yep, people in our office were chased up for it. Started about 6-8 months ago.

Don't know how it works in other offices but jobs are paid in fixed amounts, e.g. 3 hours per half delivery and no delivery takes 6 hours in our office.
It is a lot of work getting paid for 70 hours but nobody actually does 70, more like 55 - and keep in mind that you don't get paid for breaks or pension and you get paid a lower rate all at the 20% rate.