Staying compliant with the Working Time Directive1 (WTD) can be a complex, time-consuming task – especially for businesses operating across multiple sites with large teams. Field management software provider Re-flow gives readers a helpful guide.
With legal requirements to track working hours, prevent fatigue-related incidents and manage compliance, companies face serious risks if mistakes are made. Considering the amount of fleet and logistics involved in highways, as well as 24-hour work from construction to winter service, this is an important area for the sector.
The Working Time Directive overview: what you need to know
The WTD sets legal limits on working hours to protect employees from fatigue and overwork. Key points include:
- Employees cannot work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks (unless they opt out).
- Workers under 18 are limited to 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
- Employees who opt out must do so voluntarily, in writing, and can opt back in with notice.
Overtime pay and opt-out considerations
- Employers don’t have to pay a higher rate for overtime unless contractually agreed2.
- If an employee hasn’t opted out, they can exceed 48 hours in a single week – but their average over 17 weeks must remain below the legal limit.
- Employees cannot be treated unfairly for refusing to opt out.
On-call hours and working time rules
For industries requiring 24-hour staffing tracking compliance manually is a challenge. On-call time3 often creates grey areas:
- If an employee must remain at a set location and respond immediately, this is counted as working time – even if they aren’t actively working.
- If an employee only needs to be contactable (e.g. by phone) and is free to do personal activities, this is typically not counted as working time until they begin a task.
- Once an employee starts performing duties, their working time begins, and they must be paid accordingly.
Why fatigue tracking matters
Fatigue isn’t just a compliance issue – it’s a serious safety risk. Poorly managed working hours lead to reduced concentration and decision-making ability; increased accident risk on-site and on the road and long-term health issues and reduced productivity.
The consequences can be severe, from life-threatening crashes to major fines and legal action. Managing compliance effectively isn’t just about following the rules – it’s about protecting your workforce and business.
How Re-flow automates compliance and fatigue tracking
Re-flow’s fatigue tracking4 feature streamlines operations and helps eliminate human error while ensuring safety standards are upheld through WTD compliance. Ensuring the rules are followed across multiple shifts, locations and teams is complex. Re-flow automates the process5, ensuring no worker is scheduled beyond their legal limit:
- Fatigue management is built into scheduling, preventing compliance risks before they happen.
- As operatives are assigned jobs, the system checks pre-set criteria and blocks scheduling if limits are exceeded.
- Digital timesheets automatically build out a company-wide database of working hours.
- Managers gain real-time visibility into workforce scheduling, reducing admin workload.
- Non-compliance risks – like excessive hours – are flagged and prevented, avoiding serious incidents and fines.
Customisable automation for your business
Configurable settings can match your company’s specific needs so users can set automated restrictions on working hours, including:
- Maximum hours per shift or per week.
- Limits on consecutive days worked before a required break.
- Minimum rest periods between shifts.
- Notification triggers for admin teams if scheduling conflicts arise.
One way to not get tired of working on fatigue and working hours is to let the system runs seamlessly in the background – so you can focus on running an efficient, safe business.
SOURCES
- https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours
- https://www.acas.org.uk/working-time-rules
- https://www.acas.org.uk/working-time-rules/employees-who-are-on-call-or-sleep-in
- https://re-flow.co.uk/news/mastering-health-and-safety
- https://re-flow.co.uk/product/features/automation
