NALHM supports 48-hour week limit

Pub managers union NALHM (National Association of Licensed House Managers) wants operators to allow its members to limit the working week to 48 hours if they wish. The group says about half of its 3,100 members, particularly younger managers, don't want to work longer.

A senior figure from a managed pubco said the move would be impractical, lead to higher running costs and accelerate the switch to tenancy and lease.

NALHM president Dave Daly said the union is writing to major managed operators to discuss the issue. Laurel has already agreed to meet NALHM representatives on an undecided date.

Daly said: "A lot of people coming into the trade - especially single people - want a career alongside a quality of life that involves having the weekend off."

However, both Daly and the senior pubco figure pointed to difficulties in implementing a 48-hour working week, such as defining when a manager is "off-shift". For example, they may be contacted during a break to change a beer barrel or answer the telephone.

The pubco figure said the number of hours that managers work in his estate is falling from about 60 to 55 hours a week, but having a set number of hours would restrict managers' ability to react to situations that arise.

"Like the NALHM we want to reduce the number of hours that managers work. My view is that we get there with trust, honour and understanding between parties."