Unsociable Hours Wage Rates?

Question

I was wondering if anyone knows of any rules or regulations on unsociable hours.. can your employer just pay you a standard wage all through the day and if you work a night can he/she continue paying you the same rate of pay as you get during the day? I have been working as a care assistant for 7months and have recently been put on many nights, thing is im getting the same wage as i do during the day, surely nights would be unsociable hours rates, thats what my partner gets and i would say he has an easier job than me. Many Thanks!!

Answer 1

There is no requirement for the minimum wage to change for "unsocial hours". Some employers, especially if influenced by a union, do pay a higher hourly rate for work done during the night, but it is up to them to decide what time becomes unsocial. In fact the modern tendency, especially in the public sector, is to have a single rate of pay for a job regardless of the timing of the shift being worked.