On-Call or shifts?

[KronicAC]

Hi

 

I'm hoping that UK biomedical scientists will help me with this, (but other suggestions from other patlab staff around the world can comment).

 

Can you tell me if your lab has an on-call system or works shifts that comply with UK/EU legislation i.e. working time directive and can you provide details.

 

[Malcolm Needs ☆]

We work 7am to 7 pm, in compliance with EU regulations, and then work on-call between these hours (and for 24 hours at weekend and Bank Holidays), also in compliance with EU regulations, as that is what we have signed up to do.  If you work very late hours on-call (which is actually quite unusual), then we comply with having 11 hours unbroken off, before we go back to work.

 

We, though, are a Reference Laboratory, rather than a Hospital Laboratory.

[AlisonW]

I'm not familiar with the EU regulations but in our lab (in Canada) the girls work various shifts up to 2330, after that they are on call.  Call ends at 0700 when the dayshift arrives, the on call person does not return to work until 1530 giving them 8.5 hours off.  On the weekend we work a 12 hours day 0700-1900 and then take call for 12 hours.  Potentially staff can work all night on call Saturday and then have to be back to work for 0700 Sunday and then back on call for Sunday night. 

This isn't normally an issue as we may get 0-3 calls/week, I think that if it were a problem then you would be looking to staff the shift.

[Auntie-D]

We have a shift pattern that complies - I can send you a copy of our rota is you like?. WTD is being scrapped soon anyway so if you aren't quite compliant don't fret too much