This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34210002
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Travelling to work 'is work', European court rules | Travelling to work 'is work', European court rules |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Time spent travelling to and from first and last appointments by workers without a fixed office should be regarded as working time, the European Court of Justice has ruled. | Time spent travelling to and from first and last appointments by workers without a fixed office should be regarded as working time, the European Court of Justice has ruled. |
| This time has not previously been considered work by some companies. | |
| It means firms including those employing care workers, gas fitters and sales reps may be in breach of EU working time regulations. | It means firms including those employing care workers, gas fitters and sales reps may be in breach of EU working time regulations. |
| BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said it could have a "huge effect". | BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said it could have a "huge effect". |
| "Thousands of employers could now find themselves in breach of working time regulations," he added. | "Thousands of employers could now find themselves in breach of working time regulations," he added. |
| 'Falling below minimum wage' | 'Falling below minimum wage' |
| Chris Tutton, from the solicitors Irwin Mitchell, agreed the ruling would be "very significant" and could have an impact on pay. | Chris Tutton, from the solicitors Irwin Mitchell, agreed the ruling would be "very significant" and could have an impact on pay. |
| "People may now be working an additional 10 hours a week once you take into account their travel time, and that may mean employers are falling below the national minimum wage level when you look at the hourly rate that staff are paid," he said. | "People may now be working an additional 10 hours a week once you take into account their travel time, and that may mean employers are falling below the national minimum wage level when you look at the hourly rate that staff are paid," he said. |
| The court says its judgment is about protecting the "health and safety" of workers as set out in the European Union's working time directive. | The court says its judgment is about protecting the "health and safety" of workers as set out in the European Union's working time directive. |
| The directive is designed to protect workers from exploitation by employers, and it lays down regulations on matters such as how long employees work, how many breaks they have, and how much holiday they are entitled to. | The directive is designed to protect workers from exploitation by employers, and it lays down regulations on matters such as how long employees work, how many breaks they have, and how much holiday they are entitled to. |
| 'Bear the burden' | 'Bear the burden' |
| One of its main goals is to ensure that no employee in the EU is obliged to work more than an average of 48 hours a week. | One of its main goals is to ensure that no employee in the EU is obliged to work more than an average of 48 hours a week. |
| The ruling came about because of an ongoing legal case in Spain involving a company called Tyco, which installs security systems. | The ruling came about because of an ongoing legal case in Spain involving a company called Tyco, which installs security systems. |
| The company shut its regional offices down in 2011, resulting in employees travelling varying distances before arriving at their first appointment. | The company shut its regional offices down in 2011, resulting in employees travelling varying distances before arriving at their first appointment. |
| The court ruling said: "The fact that the workers begin and finish the journeys at their homes stems directly from the decision of their employer to abolish the regional offices and not from the desire of the workers themselves. | The court ruling said: "The fact that the workers begin and finish the journeys at their homes stems directly from the decision of their employer to abolish the regional offices and not from the desire of the workers themselves. |
| "Requiring them to bear the burden of their employer's choice would be contrary to the objective of protecting the safety and health of workers pursued by the directive, which includes the necessity of guaranteeing workers a minimum rest period." | "Requiring them to bear the burden of their employer's choice would be contrary to the objective of protecting the safety and health of workers pursued by the directive, which includes the necessity of guaranteeing workers a minimum rest period." |
| Are you a care worker, or in a job where your place of work is not fixed? How will you be affected by this ruling? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you a care worker, or in a job where your place of work is not fixed? How will you be affected by this ruling? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |