If I finished work this morning at 0700, after working 5 consecutive shifts, could I start work tomorrow at 1400?
I’ve always understood that a weekly rest period (WRP) is 45 hours but can be reduced to 36 hours providing compensation is made within the following two week block. I was also under the impression that the WRP can be further reduced to 24 hours providing you’re away from base.
The reason I ask is that I agreed to work tomorrow earlier in the week. However, thinking about it today, in the cold light of day, I realise that I would only be taking a 31 hour break (if I finished at 0700 this morning and start at 1400 tomorrow). I called him to advise him of the possible problem and he said that I could reduce to 24 hours, whether I was at base or not, under EU Rules.
Following the conversation I sought further clarification here:
You can reduced the weekly rest to no less than 24 hours at base or away, the compensation for the reduced weekly rest should be paid back en-block by adding it to any rest period of at least nine hours by the end of the third week following the week in which the reduced weekly rest was taken.
The regulations state that in any two consecutive weeks you should have either two regular weekly rest periods or at least one regular weekly rest period and one reduced weekly rest period, in other words you should have a regular 45 hour weekly rest period at least every second week.
lumpygreenpoo:
Under EU Rules it doesn’t state where a reduced 24 hour WRP should be taken. Can I reduce my WRP to 24 hours if I’m at home?
That’s the thing with the regulations, if it doesn’t state a restriction or condition, such as where a reduced rest can be taken, then there is no restriction. It’s when people add in stuff that isn’t there that the rules get complicated.
lumpygreenpoo:
I’ve always understood that a weekly rest period (WRP) is 45 hours but can be reduced to 36 hours providing compensation is made within the following two week block. I was also under the impression that the WRP can be further reduced to 24 hours providing you’re away from base.
As others have said the “36h or 24h if you’re away from base” rule changed several years ago (at the same time they stopped you splitting your 45 into 3x15 iirc) and you can now take 24h off wherever you are.