Working hour for employees - which Indian laws or amendments are there mentioning the duration of work?

Hi everyone. I am all new to this forum and I didn't find any solution to my query anywhere. So I thought of posting my query here so that anyone aware of this problem may answer it. I am working with an MNC as a civil engineer. I reach my office at 8.30 am sharp and leave my office at 8 pm or later. Now my problem is that one day our administrative dept told me to come to office by 8 am. I said ok. The next day when I reached the office by 8 am, there was no one and I showed that person that no one is coming by that time. From the next day I also came like everyone, since all people come after 8.15 am. Today again he told me, why are you not coming before 8.15 am? I told him the reason and he unnecessarily broke into arguments.

So I want to know about the working hours in companies. And which Indian laws or amendments are there mentioning the duration of work. I went through some posts here but that didn't clear my doubts. If anyone knows about this please let me know, because these people need to get a lesson. Please help.

Bibhu,
Read the clause of working hours in appt letter. The Acts stipulate the working hrs as 8.
Pon

Dear bibhu6123
Welcome to the Knowledge Sharing Group for daily new learnings.
Please go through https://www.citehr.com/118961-welcom...ers-group.html thread for gaining the adequate subject knowledge and to know the procedures.
You have selected the wrong discipline, which cannot have any working hour. Because you cannot accomplish your task as per the time schedule. As you are not the worker and you are an engineer you are having the moral responsibility to accomplish the task allotted to you. Hence you have no other go except staying for long hours.
About the Morning Reporting Time, you can get clarified from your Site In charge or the Administration head with cool mind.
All the best and happy learnings

Dear Bibhu,
As law the working hours are 8. Pls read your appointment letter for further details.
There should be a clause related to the same.

Hello,

India follows ILO convention on working hours which states working hours to be 48 per week.

But in this case that does not seem to be the issue.

Changing hours of work during a week is slightly tricky but changing the relay (from what to what) is a pretty straight forward matter. The relay is set (and can be reset) to suit work exigencies from time to time. This will be decided initially by the terms and conditions of employment contract but like I said the relay can be change. This is where in addition to work exigencies the HR culture must involve itself.

In the instant case, the gentleman was asked to report at a particular time when there was no one present on that occasion. Then he is being questioned as why he was not reporting before 8.15 am.

I find this state of affairs to be rather incompetent, casual, authoritative and oppressive. The powers that be in that organization must set the systme right.

Nothing moreto it really!

Regards

samvedan

June 21, 2011

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I understand from his post that he is in maintenance/service dept. That's why the HR must have asked him to be at office before others could turn up and attend any defects observed in MES systems.
Pon

@Pon: Bhibhu is a civil enginner - not in the maintenance department.
@ Sam: I am sure Bhibhu too feels that the state of affairs is rather incompetent, casual, authoritative and oppressive. No wonder he has resorted to writing to this forum. What do you suggest he should do now?
@ Bhibhu: I agree with Rajan and Pon. Check your appointment letter. Also talk to your line manager about any kind of illtreatment.

Hello,

Bibhu must first understand the causes behind changing of reporting times. This he can do only by checking with his immediate superior and/or HR-Admin.

If he is not satisfied with answers and logic of the instruction he may be able to sort itout or even raise a grievance and get it redressed.

When one works in any organization, one has to submit to authority-first and foremost. He should not be critical and shoot from the hip, as it were. He must put across his view point. And before that he must ask himself what is he unhappy about-change of reporting time OR exercise of authority in a mindless and brutal manner! But to reach conclusions, he must be patient and generate sufficient evidence (instances to demonstrate that the instruction were unrealistic, futile, tended to be rules imposed personally to him and were against the company inetersts.

If does not wish to submit to even legitimate authority, he will be forced to consider alternatives.

Having said all this and purely based on the fact as presented, the use of authority and wrongful insistance seemed to me rather uncalled for. The basics of success of dealing with people say that you must explain the "why" and not just "what" of action, obedience and compliance expected of the individual. This is true at home, school and workplaces equally. It appears that no one was taking such an approach-at least the facts presented do not reveal this aspect.

Before rushing to a "final" decision any employee (especially a new employee) must patiently examine and understand the culture of the organization and of the owrk environment. Jumping to conclusion is something no one must ever do!

May be Mr. Bibhu will get something to think about from this response. But I insist that the organization must be alert to practices that can upset new/good employees also.

Regards

samvedan

June 22, 2011

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I suggest that as per rules everyone has to work for 8 hours in general. This rule may be for workers and not necessarily for supervisors and Managers. But again that does not mean that they could be asked to work
for unlimited hours in a day. Once in a way working beyond 8 hours may be accepted but not always!.
I recommend that the employer's representative should give a written
order for working beyond 8 hours in case it is frequent and the employee
could ask for such an order in writing. The concerned person should also
mark in attendance the "IN" time and "OUT" time to record the evidence.
In case there is a labour welfare or HR manager, this point could be raised
in the grievances cell together by all employees or represent to the
Labour Commissioner. Venkat, Chennai

Thanks every one for your reply..
@boss2966-yes you are right.now a days they make me feel like I have chosen the wrong discipline.Yet we know our responsibility,thats why we work for late hours.and this should be understood by those people that who is working for more than 12 hrs ,15 mins doesn't make any sense.
@samvedan-you are also right.this case is incompetent one.even the person who asked me to come by 8.15am, he doesn't come in time.He shows me reason that company vehicles is picking up staff members from their residence ,so they are getting late.You are coming in your own vehicle,so you should come early.
@pon-I am not in any service or maintenance dept, and I dont have any responsibility to keep an eye on any one.I am being alloted a job which is not related to HR people or reporting time.Its an independent job.
@venkates-yes thats what the HR people should be aware of.We are engineers or managers ,that does not mean we have to work like animals.When I asked that fellow to put a notice for "IN" time and "OUT" time,he told me that I am talking too much.Even my senior has never told me a single word about my reporting time.

Here in my site,every one is irritated of this kind of timing.Since there is no alternative way (in civil engg as said by boss2966) ,so we are just getting used to it.But I am neither helpless nor afraid of loosing job,so I wanted to teach him a lesson.and I will do it some day,of course with your help my friends....