The opt-out clause of the Working Hours Directive 1998. :: Business and Management Studies

The opt-out clause of the Working Hours Directive 1998. The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was adopted in 1993, and came into force in the UK under the Working Time Regulations 1998 as a safety measure, because of the recognised negative effects on health and safety of excessively long working hours. It also provides for statutory minimum rest-break entitlements, annual leave and working arrangements for night workers. The EWTD is also designed to help work life balance by limiting long hours, which is both stressful and harmful to health. For example, some research has shown that driving while tired provided similar results to driving after having drunk alcohol. The EWTD regulations place a legal requirement on employers, which means that if it is not implemented, national governments will be liable for payment of heavy financial penalties and potentially sanctions from the European Union (EU). There are no rights to work long hours, but there is legal protection to protect workers’ rights to reasonable working environment and conditions, and to family life. The main features of the EWTD are; no more than 48 hours work per week; 11 hours continuous rest in 24 hours; 24 hours continuous rest in seven days (or 48 hours in 14 days); a 20 minute break in work periods of over 6 hours; four weeks annual leave; and for night workers, an average of no more than 8 hours work in 24 hours over the reference period. The EWTD was considered by the UK Government as an issue of working conditions, not as a health and safety issue. As a result, in 1993, the UK negotiated an opt-out clause, which allows Member States not to apply the limit to working hours under certain conditions, such as: prior agreement of the individual, no negative fall out from refusing to opt-out, and records kept of working hours of those that have opted out. The European Commission announced on 23rd September 2004 its controversial proposal to update the 1993 Working Time Directive. This will most likely mean the UK will have to abandon its opt-out clause. If this is the case, and working hours are restricted, there will be many advantages and disadvantages for both employees and employers. The advantages and disadvantages range from health and safety issues to financial issues. The advantages for employees are; firstly, no longer shall employees be pressured into signing a contract with an opt-out clause stating if required, they must work extra time. This will also stop a lot of employers blackmailing potential and/or current employees, which can be often the case. For example, an employer may say to a potential employee, that if they do not sign the opt-out clause contract then

Understand How to Handle Information in a Social Care Setting

Understand how to handle information in social care settings It is essential that in a social care environment information is collected, used and stored correctly. Current legislation requires everyone working in social care to maintain certain records and keep them secure. Most of the information is sensitive and therefore not available to the general public. Information that is sensitive is called Confidential. Examples of confidential records are :- * Care & support Plans * Risk Assessments Personal information about individuals being supported * Personal information about workers Always record any information given to you by an individual even if you think it is trivial as it may help someone else. Always check an individual’s care and support plan before working with them as there may have been changes since you last worked with the individual even if it was only a short time ago. Access to all information should be restricted to those people to whom the information is re levant.Legislation relating to information handling includes :- * Data Protection Act 1998 * Freedom of Information Act 2000 * Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Essential Standards) Two key components of maintaining confidentiality are the integrity of information and its security. Integrity is achieved by the accuracy and completeness of information using proper processing methods. Security measures are needed to protect information from a wide variety of threats.It is important to have secure systems in place in respect of information handling in order to * Comply with legislation * Protect confidentiality * Prevent identity theft * Maintain the rights of individuals * Ensure information is accessible for those who need to know Guidance, information and advice on handling information can be obtained from :- * Colleagues * Senior Staff Members * Individuals (Service Users) * Policies & Procedures * Internet Find out what records your employer keeps and how they are stored and kept sec ureIf you become aware of any situation where you suspect or know that the agreed procedures have not been followed or are not being followed by yourself or another person, you have a duty of care to report the situation immediately to your manager or supervisor. If you have any worries/concerns over recording, storing or sharing information then :- * Report to a colleague * Report to a senior member of staff * Don’t share any information if unsure Assignment 209 Task B Amanda Clegg

The Society´s View of the Role of Children Essay - 940 Words

In early modern Europe, various views regarding the role of children in society heavily influenced the manner in which these children were raised. Some Europeans felt that through discipline and somewhat harsh treatment, parents might better prepare their children to succeed. Others perceived love and gentle guidance as the best way by which to form the minds of their children. These altered views were a result of a change in the times and circumstances. Attitudes toward children differed among early Europeans and resulted in various methods of child rearing. Those who saw children as weak and inferior sought to instill stronger characteristics through harsh treatment and discipline – â€Å"tough love†. The Domostroi, a Russian†¦show more content†¦The average European family was also much larger and therefore, those children that survived were considered very precious and were looked upon favorably by their parents. In a letter written by Martin Luther in the 1500’s, the devastation of the death of a child is apparent. Luther describes his mourning at the passing of his â€Å"obedient and respectful† daughter, and that even his faith, the source of his strength, is not enough to completely assuage the pain of his loss (Document 2). For Luther, a father as well as the leader of the Protestant Reformation, the loss of a child is almost too much to bear. Christoph Scheurl, a Nuremberg jurist and diplomat, describes in his annual notes the pride that he feels in his five-year-old son (Document 1). Scheurl is delighted in his son’s aptitude for learning and in his overall growth and progress. Due to the high mortality rate, it is only natural for Scheurl to take pride in the seemingly small accomplishments of his young son. The trend of employing disciplinarian tactics in child rearing declined somewhat during the 17th and 18th centuries. As a result of this â€Å"Age of Reason†, traditional perspectives on the rai sing of a child were altered. As Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, recollects, â€Å"we were bred tenderly† (Document 9). Instead of harsh treatments, reason and patience were employed. Parents sought to please their children, and gently instructed them on the adverse consequences ofShow MoreRelatedThe Drastic Change in Society and in Family Diversity Essay829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Drastic Change in Society and in Family Diversity In the 1960s families were a lot more traditional than nowadays, and most families were nuclear, which means a married a couple with children. 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