EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Agenda For Change Changes in shifts under AfC

I have been reading the AfC T&C's for quite abit now and i can't see anything about shift changes.

We are being asked to change over to 12 hour shifts rather than a standard 9-5. Our weekly hours would still be 37.5hours.

Where do we stand?

BIFF
You don't. The NHS is "promoting" flexible working arrangements, which is supposed to enhance life quality for the employee. Unfortunately, some heads of department are using it to change the core hours covered.

You should think yourself lucky you're in the NHS and will end up with another 2 days a week off,in the private sector we regularly end up working 5x12 hour shifts when driving time is included and no most of us don't get overtime or time off in lieu (or an index linked pension).

Chris
Is your base classed as your home? If so, then your driving time is classed as part of your working day. In which, case, unless you have signed an explicit opt out, you are in breach of the EU directive of max. 48 hours.

AFC only specifies a working week of 37.5 hours - no mention of how these are made up.

However your current hours are normally deemed fixed by "custom and practice" so any change should be subject to consultation. And of course partnership working is central to AFC so staff should be involved at the planning stage for changes like this, not just being consulted after the fact. (No I don't know anywhere where this actually happens)

Look up your trusts "managing change" or similar policy. They normally start by saying how much staff are valued and how they should be involved in planning changes. Which is the bit HR always skip over.

At the end of the day management can always play the "needs of the service" card, so cover will be needed to be provided for the 12 hour days required. The only get out is that you should be able to arrange the cover amongst yourselves so that most people carry on 8:30 - 17:00 with a couple working 12:00 - 20:30 so long as the required service is still covered (look in your trusts flexible working policy under something like self or team rostering)

good luck

No my office is my base but unfortunately we all work in the real world where Liebour's new laws don't apply !!!
What would we do when in on a call or exhibition/conference in Scotland or Cornwall when our hours for the 6+ hour journey home would take us over the limit,just pack up or stay over cancelling all the planned calls for the next day ?
Probably the only places where the WHD is actually played out is in Government Departments!
I know renal engineers in the private sector who now don't get home all week and spend their lives on the road ( in a van rather than a car)for probably less money than they would get as an NHS tech.
I would suggest anyone employed on the road in either service or sales trying to work to rule and booking Friday off every week due to the WHD wouldn't last past their probationary period.

As i understand it, your managers can in fact set out your hours (37.5) in any way shape or form and this could include weekends or Public Holidays! The latter would be compensated for with a day off in leiu.(AFC Para 13 Annual Leave & PH policy)
The fact that employers generally haven't strayed from 9-5 is that this would significantly increase the pay budget due to unsocial hours working.
BIFF, make sure you point this out to your Managers, the fact that where these prospective shifts cover unsocial hours, weekends or PH's, this will entitle you to pay enhancement. Can't remember the definition of unsocial hours and pay off the top of my head but it is in the AFC terms & conditions.
Topper

As i understand it, your managers can in fact set out your hours (37.5) in any way shape or form and this could include weekends or Public Holidays! The latter would be compensated for with a day off in leiu.(AFC Para 13 Annual Leave & PH policy)

AfC para 13 actually says that if you are working or on call then you get an equivalent time off in lieu. Therefore if you work 12hours then you get 12 hours off in lieu and if you are on call for 24 hours then you get 24 hours off in lieu.