Sir,

It is rather odd that the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), has come out against the Working Time Directive – a basic piece of European wide health and safety legislation.

Contrary to the CIPD’s stance, there is a clear relationship between continually working long hours and ill health.  A recent study of 6,000 British civil servants in the European Heart Journal has concluded that long hours and overtime are “related to increased risk of incident CHD [coronary heart disease] independently of conventional risk factors”. 

Moreover as Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, stated employers that treat their staff well and already support flexible working arrangements have nothing to fear from working time rules.    

Let us hope that the UK Government ignores the CIPD's flawed advice.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Stihler MEP

Labour MEP for Scotland