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Working Hours (and Pay)

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tell-me-more | 19:42 Mon 02nd Feb 2009 | Law
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Can a dental nurse in a private practice in the UK be obliged to work from 9am - 8pm and then from 07.45am until 3pm the following day?

I'm surprised that the first shift alone is allowed.

Also, if scheduled to do these hours, and then the surgery closes 2 hours early, is the nurse entitled to the pay for the entire shift?
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Why not? It's only 11 hours. Why are you surprised the first shift is allowed??
and yes, the next day start time is also fine

As for being paid for leaving early? I would think you should get paid but someone else will be along with proper details or you could look here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
it is only just ok, I have to leave 10 hours between shifts for my staff.
however "only just ok" is the same as ok!
Question Author
Thanks.

What breaks would you be entitled to on the 9-8 day?

My partner has been in dental nursing for a while, and I'm fed up of her working these long days and invariably hardly getting a break, or worse still, being scheduled to do a full day, then being told at no notice that she must go home without the full day's pay and sometimes come back another day instead.

If you commit to the time, you deserve pay. If they find they don't need you, that's their tough luck in my opinion.
Legally, I am sure it is 20mins
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/workingtime .htm

Bednobs/Dot it appears it is now 11 hours between shifts - so the finish at 8pm and start at 7.45 is still fine as I mkake that 11hrs 45mins

Ofc, breaks are different in certain jobs - not dental nurse though - which you can read about here
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/emp loyment-legislation/working-time-regs/index.ht ml

And for good measure here's ACAS http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14 61
Question Author
OK. Thanks. 11 hours between shifts seems to be the legal mininimum, and one 20 min break per 11 hour shift so it is legal. I'm surprised.

What about the issue of scheduling someone to work a shift, then cancelling sameday and not paying them for the whole time they were scheduled for? Surely that has to be illegal in most cases, because the staff member is committed to being available during that time. I've never heard of that practice before, but it seems commonplace in dental nursing. In her previous job, the nurse in question had regularly been told once she had arrived at work that her shifts had been changed, and not only would she not be required or paid to work that shift, she would also have to be available for another shift as early as the same day.
What does it say in her contract?
I see no reason why it would be illegal not to pay someone for a shift they were not needed for - no work no pay
If, however, they are expected to be available for the shift times, then yes, there should be some monetary attachment to that although I doubt it would be full pay unless they were called in
Use the ACAS site - or call them, they will be able to advise you to the law

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