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Changes to working patterns are among the many consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. These changes reflect the altered demands on businesses, as well as the opportunities presented by having employees working from home. Some businesses have implemented ‘standby’ procedures for staff who might previously have worked under a more traditional working week. While these new arrangements have been accepted by some employees, they have also led to disputes about whether or not ‘standby’ time is working time.

This question was recently addressed by the ECJ cases of DJ v Radiotelevizija Slovenija and RJ v Stadt Offenbach am Main.

Working time and rest

The key question which employers and employees need to know is whether time spent on ‘standby’ is working time or rest. The Working Time Regulations 1998 (the Regulations) impose limits on the amount of working time which can be expected of workers to 48 hours per week over a 17 week average. However, rest periods are not considered to be working time by the Regulations.

What do tribunals consider?

Recent European Court of Justice cases have given insight into the way courts differentiate between working time and rest. In RJ v Stadt Offenbach am Main, RJ, a firefighter, had to be reachable at any time and have his uniform and service vehicle available. He would need to be able to reach a town boundary within 20 minutes. In DJ v Radiotelevizija Slovenija, DJ, a specialist technician for radio transmission facilities, often had to stay at accommodation near his work, including at accommodation provided by his employer. DJ had to be contactable while on standby, and had to be able to return to his workplace within one hour.

In both cases, the ECJ concluded that standby time would be working time where the constraints imposed on a worker objectively, and very significantly, affect their ability to freely manage the time during which their services are not required and use that time for their own interests. Conversely, when there are no such constraints, only the time linked to the provision of work actually carried out during that period constitutes working time.

The ECJ concluded that it was for national courts to assess the facts of each case which would include consideration of the following:

  • The required response time of a worker on standby, and the magnitude of the effect on the worker’s ability to pursue their own activities;
  • The frequency of the employer’s interventions; and
  • Whether the worker needs to be present at a specified place during standby, and what that place is.

Although ECJ rulings no longer bind the UK in the light of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, the Withdrawal Agreement states that courts and tribunals may “have regard” to post-Brexit ECJ case law so far as it is relevant. It is therefore likely that an employment tribunal would also adopt this facts-based approach.

Possible consequences

Failure to correctly differentiate between working time and rest can have serious consequences for businesses.  Under the Regulations, it is a criminal offence to fail to take reasonable steps to comply with the limits set on working time and employers may be liable to prosecution, an unlimited fine, and even a prison sentence.  In addition, there may be an impact on whether or not the national minimum wage is being paid to the worker.

In addition, workers may refuse to carry out work in excess of the 48 hours a week average where they include ‘standby’ time as working time, thus reducing their ‘non-standby’ working hours. If they are then subjected to disciplinary action and/or dismissal on the basis that the ‘standby’ time is not included in their ‘working time’ then employers should be clear that the standby time would not be considered working time as result of the two cases referred to above.

It is also worth mentioning a recent Supreme Court in the UK in relation to sleep-in care workers. The claim was in relation to the national minimum wage and whether or not a care worker, who carried out ‘sleep-in’ shifts while caring for individuals with learning disabilities, was working over that period for the purposes of the national minimum wage. The workers were required to be at or near the premises and to maintain a ‘listening ear’ in case of emergencies but were otherwise expected to sleep during that shift. They were paid a ‘sleep allowance’ and usual hourly rates if they had to attend and emergency during the ‘sleep in shift’ but those payments did not meet the national minimum wage if the employer was obliged to include all of the hours that the worker ‘slept’ during such a shift.  The Supreme Court found that under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and its relevant regulations the worker was only doing ‘time’ work if they were ‘awake for the purposes of working’ (and had some duties to perform) in order for it to be ‘working time’ for the purposes of the national minimum wage. This arises from specific wording in the relevant national minimum wage regulations which refers to being awake for the purposes of working.

Best Practice

The recent ECJ and Supreme Court cases highlight the need for businesses to have a clear understanding of the implications of their standby requirements. They also demonstrate that employees and workers should be aware of their regulatory rights as increased demands are placed on them during the pandemic.

Edwin Coe’s Employment team, headed up by Linky Trott, is available to help businesses and employees who seek clarification with regards to standby procedures.

Please note that this blog is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content of this blog.

Edwin Coe LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership, registered in England & Wales (No.OC326366). The Firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. A list of members of the LLP is available for inspection at our registered office address: 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, London, WC2A 3TH. “Partner” denotes a member of the LLP or an employee or consultant with the equivalent standing.

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