Hello,
I am hoping that someone can answer a question regarding the right to uninterrupted rest, or alternatively tell me that I am being too unlenient towards my work.
I currently work night shifts for a well-known bakery, multidrop to supermarkets and the like. Like most places, there are good elements to the work as well as bad. However recently things seem to be taking a downward turn with management upsetting drivers, resulting in the loss of over 25 drivers in the past year. As a result, a shortage of drivers has led to managers constantly trying to get people to do overtime.
I am not against overtime and have helped out constantly. I didn’t do this for money reasons but to help out in times of need when the business needed it, although the money was a bonus. However recently I have scaled this back because it is quite clear that the way managers treat drivers when they need help and when they don’t is completely different.
Anyway, for the past few months, I have been going into my rest days (and sometimes between night shifts while sleeping) when the company will ring 2 to 3 times a day. Presuming it is something important, I always answer the phone where I have a manager asking if I can work overtime. These are not urgent overtime requests, but requests that are weeks in advance and could be done when I am actually in work. It didn’t bother me until recently when they were doing it between night shifts, knowing that I would most likely be sleeping in prep for the following night shift. And on rest days, I value my work/ life balance enough to not want to have to deal with work issues in my own time. I really don’t want to have all my free time revolve around work.
So, does anyone know if this is allowed in terms of driver rules and rest period? I am more than happy to deal with urgent enquiries on rest period, but this is not the case and can be done in work time. Would these phone calls count as having interrupted my rest period, or am I being too overly dramatic and just get on with it. I have discussed the matter with my employer, there is an overtime availability form in the office, and I could just ignore my phone on my rest days, but it would just play on my mind until I get back to work. It seems to happen every time I go onto rest days.
Many thanks.