PUBLIC sector employees will see a large chunk of their freedom curtailed from the start of next year as their working hours are set to get longer and their lunch hours and time off reduced.
They will be expected to work 37 hours a day, normally 09.00hrs to 17.00hrs with half an hour for lunch, but this may be flexible and allow certain employees to start work at 07.30hrs or finish at 18.30hrs, depending upon their role.
In no cases will they be allowed a three-hour lunch break, and extra time off for 'personal matters' – such as renewing identity cards or driving licences – will be limited to three days a year.
At least half of their annual leave will have to be taken between mid-June and mid-September, and they will lose half a day's pay for every day off sick from the fifth day onwards unless they have a doctor's note.
The new rules are based on the fact that no staff member should lose 'spending power' due to a 'normal' number of sick days for an otherwise, generally healthy worker, but that this way it prevents excessive days off.
