Is it normal for programmers to opt out of the 48 hour week?

Question

I'm due to start my first job as a computer programmer next week, and they've just sent me a copy of my contract. The official working hours are pretty standard (7.5 per day excluding lunch, five days a week), but it also says that I agree to opt out the 48 hour average week limit set out in the Working Time Regulations 1998. Is that normal? Should I be worried?

Answer 1

Yes, it's standard practice for most IT professionals to opt out of the Working Time Regulations 1998, especially programmers and developers. Reason being, many projects require many man hours and short time scales, which results in unusually high hours having to be put in. Our in house developers can end up doing in excess of 70/80hrs a week on high priority projects. I, myself have opted out, because I'm on call, which results in doing a lot more than 48hrs a week.

I must say, good choice on your career option ;)

Answer 2

Normally,its 40 hrs.

Answer 3

In a nutshell it means you agree to not be limited by the 48 hour work regulation, that you don't mind working over.

See source for this website/Here's an excerpt:

What if a worker agrees to work longer hours?

An individual worker may agree to work more than 48 hours a week. If so, he or she should sign an opt-out agreement, which they can cancel at any time. The employer and worker can agree how much notice is needed to cancel the agreement, which can be up to three months. In the absence of an agreed notice period, the worker needs to give a minimum of seven days' notice of cancellation.

Employers cannot force a worker to sign an opt-out. Any opt-out must be agreed to. Workers cannot be fairly dismissed or subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out.

Employers must keep a record of who has agreed to work longer hours.

Hope this helps - Barbie