Day 206 - 22 Jan 96 - Page 51


     
     1        previous week's schedule for them to follow on to the next
     2        week's schedule to ensure that they would not have an
     3        inappropriate shift on the Monday.
     4
     5   Q.   Then Mr. Morris is asking you why would you, if it be the
     6        case, ensure that someone does not work more than seven
     7        days in a row?
     8        A.  Obviously, to ensure that they have the correct number
     9        of days off.
    10
    11   MR. MORRIS:  So, really, in any period of seven days, people
    12        should have two days off; that is only fair for an
    13        employee?
    14        A.  Yes, unless they specifically requested otherwise.
    15
    16   Q.   So that the rules about fairness to employees do not apply
    17        if somebody needs the extra money and is prepared to work
    18        longer hours; is that what you are saying?
    19        A.  We would not schedule an employee to work greater than
    20        five, you know, five days within a week period with two
    21        days off.
    22
    23   Q.   What I am trying to find out is if the Company cares
    24        anything at all about its employees and ----
    25
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Put it another way, because it could be a
    27        point of view that a Company who cares about its employees
    28        would be only too happy to let them work as long as they
    29        wanted to, as many days in a row as they wanted to.  That
    30        is not the point of view you are putting, but try to put it
    31        another way.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  I will put it another way then.  (To the witness):
    34        Does the Company have any policy about their Managers
    35        taking advantage of people's lack of money or need for
    36        greater money by having any kind of policies on restricting
    37        the number of days in which they can be scheduled or number
    38        of shifts which they should work in a row?  You did the
    39        scheduling; you must know what the guidelines are.
    40        A.  The guides lines are that the crew member would work in
    41        the period of 35 to 40 hours a week.
    42
    43   Q.   Are you saying that anyone who works over 40 hours a week,
    44        therefore, is doing it outside of the Company's concern for
    45        their length of hours they work; it is something that
    46        should not be done, no-one should be working more than 40
    47        hours ------
    48        A.  Extra hours -- if a crew member came to me and asked to
    49        be scheduled extra hours, or wanted extra shifts, then we
    50        would try and accommodate their needs. 
    51 
    52   Q.   So, is it the case that you are happy to accommodate your 
    53        staff, your workers', needs when it comes to longer hours
    54        working, but, say, if they ask for double wages, the
    55        Company would not consider that?
    56        A.  The Company are actually happy to oblige for extra
    57        hours.  Accordingly, if the crew member was to work shorter
    58        hours or change their availability, and we would try and do
    59        our best to accommodate them as well.  The wage rate that
    60        we hire at ------

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