FOR most of us, this Sunday morning will mean one less hour in bed as the clocks go forward.
When the time changes from 1am to 2am on Sunday morning, we will be ready to enjoy longer days as spring starts.
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However, those working night shifts could be set to lose out.
Here are the rules around working when the clocks change and how to understand your rights.
Will I get to work an hour less?
Some employees will technically be working an hour less in their shift as a result of a clock change. For example, an employee working an eight-hour shift will actually only work for seven hours.
But whether this applies to you will depend on how your employment contract is worded.
If it says that you have to work specific times, for example from 12am to 8am, you’ll likely be able to enjoy a shorter shift.
But if it states the number of hours you should work, for example an eight-hour shift, you’ll need to clock off an hour later than usual, even though you won’t actually work any extra hours.
Will I lose pay if I work less?
Similarly, this will also depend on your employment contract.
For workers who receive regular salary, they will usually get the normal amount regardless of whether they work one hour less.
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But if a worker’s contract require to them to work between certain hours and they are paid for hours worked, the employer doesn’t have to pay for the “lost hour” when clocks go forward.
John Palmer, senior adviser at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), told The Sun previously: “If an employee is paid hourly then they should be paid for every hour they work.
“So if they work an extra hour, they should be paid for the extra hour and vice versa.”
Employers could chose to pay their employees despite working an hour less or ask them to work one extra hour at another time to compensate the lost time, but this is completely up to them.
Ms Colley added: “The employer could ask them to work an additional hour at another time to make up that hour lost, if they were inclined.
“But most employers would probably say that (particularly for night workers) they do an extra hour when the clocks go back so it all works out the same over the course of the year.”
What are night workers’ rights?
If you work night shifts you are already entitled to certain rights, according to the Working Time Regulations.
You are classed as night worker if you work at least three hours through the night, usually in the period between 11am and 6am.
If you do night work, you should not have to work more than eight hours in a 24-hour perid. This is usually calculated over a 17-week period.
Regular overtime is included in this average and workers cannot opt out of this limit.
Because of the health impacts of nightime working, your employer must offer you a free health assessment on a regular basis.
You also have rights to breaks. If your shift is longer than six hours, you are allowed at least a 20-minute break.
You must also have at least 11 consecutive hours’ rest in any 24-hour period and one day off each week or two consecutive days off in a fortnight.
