Working at Fairfield Foods: Conduct and Overtime

Text 1 — Staff Code of Conduct (extract)

A — Uniform and appearance. All production staff are provided with a uniform free of charge, and a name badge must be worn at all times while on site. If you lose your badge, a replacement can be obtained from the Human Resources office for £5. Long hair must be tied back, and for hygiene reasons no jewellery may be worn on the production floor apart from a plain wedding band.

B — Mobile phones and breaks. Personal mobile phones must be kept in your locker during working hours. They may be used in the staff canteen during breaks. Staff working a full eight-hour shift are entitled to two paid 15-minute breaks and one unpaid 30-minute meal break.

C — Reporting absence. If you are unable to come to work, you must telephone your line manager at least two hours before your shift is due to begin. Text messages and emails are not accepted. A medical certificate is required for any absence of more than three consecutive days.

D — Disciplinary procedure. Minor breaches of this code are dealt with by a verbal warning, followed by a written warning if the behaviour continues, and finally dismissal. Gross misconduct — including theft and deliberate breaches of safety rules — may result in instant dismissal.

Text 2 — Overtime and Shift-Swap Policy

E — Overtime. Overtime is always voluntary and is offered first to staff within the department where the extra hours are needed. Weekday overtime is paid at one and a half times your normal rate; overtime on a public holiday is paid at double time. All overtime must be approved in advance by the shift supervisor.

F — Claiming payment. To claim payment, record your extra hours on your weekly timesheet and have it signed by your supervisor. Timesheets must be submitted by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's payroll; claims received after this deadline will be paid the following month.

G — Swapping shifts. You may exchange a shift with a colleague provided they hold the same training grade as you. Both employees must sign a shift-swap form and hand it in at least 48 hours before the shift begins. Once a swap is approved, the colleague who accepts the shift becomes responsible for attending it.

H — Working-hour limits. No employee may work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks, and there must be a rest period of at least 11 hours between one shift and the next. Supervisors will refuse any overtime request that would break these limits.