Did you know? Working hours to be adjusted

Collective Labour Agreement for the Facilities Services Sector, Section 8, Working time: When average weekly working hours are used, the working hours may be arranged by adjusting them to an average of a maximum of 37.5 or 40 hours a week. The adjustment period shall be a maximum of 4 weeks. Regular working time may not exceed 9 hours a day or 45 hours a week without the employee’s consent.

Working hours adjustment systems familiar from the commercial sector have also been introduced into the facilities services sector. Working hours are adjusted over a certain period of time to match the number of hours recorded in each employee’s employment contract. Anything over and above this is classified as overtime. Taru Koho works for a cleaning company in Rovaniemi, which uses a 3-week adjustment period.

We asked cleaner Taru Koho if the working time section of the Collective Labour Agreement was clear.
- No, it’s not. Employees only know their shifts for the following week in advance, but they don’t know when the adjustment period starts and ends. When you don’t know if you have worked overtime, it’s difficult to know if you are being paid the correct amount. I have a regular 7.5-hour site, so I don’t do much overtime. However, just last Christmas, for example, I also covered for another person and accumulated some overtime. I was only paid what I was owed after several requests for my pay to be adjusted. There should be a system in place to ensure that any overtime pay automatically lands in your bank account.

How has this section affected your work?
Previously, I used to get overtime pay as soon as my shift exceeded 8 hours. Now I hear that working hours are adjusted over 3-week periods, so you don’t accumulate any overtime. This shows in your pay cheque.

Where do you get help with unclear issues?
From my shop steward.