1. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKING TIME

Overall, working time in the UK has declined since the introduction of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), a trend accelerated by the recession. The number of employees working more than 48 hours has fallen to around three million, compared to 3.8 million in 1999. Negotiated reductions in the basic working week are still being achieved in some workplaces (despite the recession and spending cuts) but “involuntary” part-time working and under-employment have played their part too.