Workplace Report May 2021

Health & safety news

Short notice shifts ‘harm health’

Short notice shifts are damaging workers’ health and destroying family life, says the Unite general union. It issued its warning after a survey by the Living Wage Foundation found 62% of workers on variable hours or shifts are given notice of a week or less about when they will be working. Variable shift working is a particular problem for HGV and delivery drivers, as well as for warehouse and logistics workers who are often also required to “stay on” beyond the end of shifts for “operational reasons”, says Unite. Constant shift changes cause long-term fatigue due to a lack of rest and recovery time, as well as “huge emotional strain on family life”, it added.

https://www.livingwage.org.uk/news/almost-two-fifths-working-given-less-weeks-notice-working-hours