CLERICAL WORKERS IN SHOPS

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 12

CLERICAL WORKERS IN SHOPS

REDUCTION OF HOURS Clerical staffs of retail businesses will, from July 1, work a 40-hour week or receive payment for any hours worked in excess of 40. Shop assistants will continue to work 44 hours. A clause in the new award covering the employment of clerical workers says that where by reason of any award, industrial agreement, provision in the Shops and Offices Act, Factories Act or Order in Court the 44-hour week is permitted, a clerical worker may be required to work in excess of 40 hours in any week, but for overtime worked over 40 hours, and riot exceeding 44 he shall be paid ordinary time in addition to the weekly wage. At present their hours are the same as those for the businesses in which they are employed. Clerical workers are usually required to be on duty while the shops are open, including Friday night and Saturday mornings. The opinion was expressed yesterday that employers will probably rearrange the hours of their clerical staffs to bring them down to 40, either by starting the employees later or giving them a longer break in the middle of the day, rather than incur extra expense through the payment of overtime.