Split Working Hours Law?

Question

I want to find out about split shifts. Is it legal to work hours 6-10am 6-10pm and again 6-10am 6-10pm. Is any law what I need to take straight break more than 8 hours?

Thank You

Answer 1

by law you have to have 11hrs break before your next shift.

Answer 2

There are a few jobs with required breaks in between shifts - pilots and truck drivers, for example.  Assuming you aren't one of those, the shifts you mention are legal.

This is in the US - other countries might have different laws.

Answer 3

I think that there is a law against that, though you'll have to check. I'm fairly sure that the EU requires that you have an 11 hour break between two shifts. If my understanding is right, you could work 6-10am and 6-10pm one day but you couldn't start until 9am on the second day.

Are you a member of a trades union? If yes, they will have a legal department able to help you. If no, I suggest that you ask the CAB.  They can offer free advice on subjects like this. One important thing is to get your facts correct before you challenge your employer. I may have misunderstood something and challenging you employer when you're not right could endanger your job security.

Answer 4

Working time directive states that you must have 11 hours off between each shift.

Your contract of employment should state what your hours of work are and if you agreed to take the job knowing that the shifts would be split you won't have much of an argument. Also you may have signed an opt out agreement which a lot of employers request any new employees to sign, if you signed this then you need to go back to your employer and discuss with him his demands which you are finding unreasonable.

Ring acas and speak to someone regarding this.

Answer 5

In the UK this all comes under the Working Time legislation.

Check out www.acas.org they will have reference to it.