Wardens' rest breaks

UCU and the University have agreed the following arrangements for rest breaks for Wardens.

• The Working Time Regulations stipulate the following rest breaks:
  • 11 hours uninterrupted rest in a 24 hour period
  • One day off in a seven day period or two days off in a 14 day period. 
• Achieving these stipulated rest breaks is difficult in the current Wardens Service structure because wardens have a (usually) full time contract with the University and undertake the Warden role in addition.
• Wardens are often on-call overnight and over weekends to respond to emergencies within their hall. This does not mean they are working during the entire period. Work will be classed when they are carrying out an activity related to their Warden role.  
• Wardens should make every effort to ensure that the above rest breaks are applied, if possible.
• However, due to the nature of the Warden role, it is likely that Wardens will be required to work at times which mean that these rest breaks can’t be achieved. These include:
  • Needing to work because there’s an exceptional event, an accident or a risk that an accident is about to happen
  • Needing to respond to an emergency involving a student in their hall
• In these situations, Wardens are asked to manage their time and take compensatory rest at other time. They will manage this between themselves so that adequate cover is provided at all times.
• Wardens will be empowered to manage their time effectively and to ensure they have adequate rest in accordance with the breaks listed above. They are able to cover for each other in order to achieve this. 

• If a Warden feels that they are regularly being required to work and are not able to benefit from the reciprocal cover arrangements to enable rest breaks or compensatory time for the rest breaks, they should bring this to the attention of the Director of Student Services who will review working arrangements to ensure that the situation is rectified.
• This arrangement will be reviewed on an annual basis.