Ask Lemmygrad

I work in a small startup company, about 14 people. Recently, the leadership asked us to sign something to waive a limit on the working hours we do (called the Working Time Directive in the UK, limits time to 48 hours a week). However, many lab scientists here have been working significantly more (60+ hours) for many months, which would be illegal.

I thought this might give us an opportunity to have a bit more leverage, as not everyone has signed this yet. If we make some demands and refuse to sign it until we do, we can threaten legal action (is what I thought).

I spoke to some of the scientists and they are all a bit fed up at the amount of time they are being asked to work. Not that the leadership ever says you must come in, just they say that these projects need to be done, and the work just takes that long. We also are not paid overtime at all, so these scientists are working sometimes 100hr weeks for equivalently less than minimum wage. I don't know everyone's salaries exactly but I am pretty sure it's 28-32k gbp sort of range. Of course they have sold us the idea that we are working to build the company in the early stages and they have given us shares in the company, but we can only use these after staying in the company for 5 years (entrapment).

Should we form a group and make some demands? What do you think? How should we go about it? I have no experience organising and I don't think anyone else does either. The others have expressed interest though.

Also should be noted that a couple of the workers are relying on this job to sponsor their visa and otherwise they could be forced to leave the country.

Your advice would be much appreciated comrades