Employer responsibilities

[andyb000!]

Can some kind soul point me to any guidance on the forum as to employer's basic statutory responsibilities? I tried a search but couldn't find what I'm after.

In brief a family member works at a 24/7 roadside service/petrol station, often lone working especially at night. There have been various problems including lack of refreshment facilities for staff (used to be allowed unlimited tea/coffee but since change of supplier's vending machine, drinks now have to be paid for), and the fact that the only toilet is 'outside' of the secure area when working alone at night. There is no hot water for hand washing yet the service station supplies food (heated pasties, sausage rolls etc).

Should the company be required to have a lone working policy? What provision should be made for breaks - for example the lone working night shift is 8 hours. Is there a legal requirement for staff to be able to have at least access to a tap supplying drinking water?

The facility was ram raided during the night shift recently which left the premises unsecurable for a while. The operative at the time of the raid was pretty shook up by the experience but was told they would lose pay if they took time off. rate of pay for night shift is the same as day shift.

grateful for any thoughts on these issues

Andy

[teaboy2]

Re: Employer responsibilities

Can some kind soul point me to any guidance on the forum as to employer's basic statutory responsibilities? I tried a search but couldn't find what I'm after.

In brief a family member works at a 24/7 roadside service/petrol station, often lone working especially at night. There have been various problems including lack of refreshment facilities for staff (used to be allowed unlimited tea/coffee but since change of supplier's vending machine, drinks now have to be paid for), and the fact that the only toilet is 'outside' of the secure area when working alone at night. There is no hot water for hand washing yet the service station supplies food (heated pasties, sausage rolls etc). Not much you can do about refreashments as employees can bring their own pack up. The toilet being outside the secure area though does pose a saftey risk and should be assessed by the employer. Ideally they should have a toilet purpose built on to the back of the service stations secure area. As lone female workers are vulnerable to being attacked. But again its not something you could use as your trump card against the employer especially if they have CCTV watching the route between secure area and toilet! Hand washing however is different as the employer has a duty to provide such under health and saftey laws, i.e. to stop spreading of germs, therefore hot water is required.

Should the company be required to have a lone working policy? What provision should be made for breaks - for example the lone working night shift is 8 hours. Is there a legal requirement for staff to be able to have at least access to a tap supplying drinking water? Yes, health and saftey regulations make that a satutory requirement! Also a person working 8 hour shift is entitled to a 20min rest break if your working longer then 6hrs (working times regulations). Though the rest break maybe paid or unpaid, depending on what is stated in the employee contract. Its likely unpaid!

The facility was ram raided during the night shift recently which left the premises unsecurable for a while. The operative at the time of the raid was pretty shook up by the experience but was told they would lose pay if they took time off. rate of pay for night shift is the same as day shift.

grateful for any thoughts on these issues

Andy

My advice Andy would be to speak to health and saftey without making any complaints, then use what the health and safety people give you in a grievance letter to the employer, which your friend must write. As for taking breaks, simply tell your friend to put up a sign in the window, saying on break back in 10mins, then he/she can have 10 mins, come back to the counter, see if anyones wanting to be served, serve them then take the other 10minutes afterwards. The employer can not do anything, they may not like it, but simply get your friend to point out that he/she is entitled to take 20mins break after working 6 hours under the working time regulations so any disciplinary action for it would amount to a breach of the working time regulations by the employer and a breach of contract allowing for a claim to be issued at tribunal!

[andyb000!]

Re: Employer responsibilities

Thanks Teaboy - some good points - I'll pass this on

AndyB

[miliitant]

Re: Employer responsibilities

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...cDGxlWl6Ui3uuQ

[andyb000!]

Re: Employer responsibilities

Thanks Miliitant - that is also a useful document, which I will pass on.

Andy