Working Time Regulations Consultancy

Comply with working time regulations & local legislation

SMART's consultancy services are designed to help you maximise the return-on-employment of your workforce whatever your size, sector or strategy.

From helping to improve staff productivity and flexibility to developing and managing a compliance process for Working Time Regulations, SMART's consultancy services can help you to save even more on your people costs; with combined savings from SMART's systems and consultancy services of as much as 20%.

SMART’s Consultancy Service includes:

• SMART Workforce Strategy
• SMART Work Pattern/Roster Modelling
• Annual Hours

SMART Workforce Strategy

SMART’s expert consultants will work with you to devise a strategy tailored to the unique demands of your business, to define smarter working practices, within the constraints of your contractual, legal and union requirements.

Step by step, a typical SMART Strategy consulting project might comprise:

• Initial assessments to establish the motivation for change and the required benefits, such as cost-savings; increased production; more competitive employment terms; improved customer service; or compliance with regulations.


• Input from management and staff, including team workshops, strategy meetings and (often) negotiations with workers’ representatives.


• A feasibility phase, providing an initial review of employment contract terms and working practices, work rules, shift patterns, rosters and absence levels, and evaluating the opportunities for flexible working, variable/annual hours contracts, and improvements in work-life balance.


• Evaluation of all the factors that affect staff costs, such as overtime and other premium payments and allowances. Any working practices that are an impediment to productivity will also be identified. This involves a business and financial examination of plans and processes, plus data gathering and analysis to create a future labour demand profile.


• The solution design phase entails the design, negotiation and communication of mutually acceptable working arrangements – and a vital skills and training needs assessment. A win-win solution will often incorporate stable income plans and increased leisure time, which will vary according to the culture of the business.


• A tailored communications plan is also included in the guidance offered during implementation, to ensure full commitment from managers and workers alike. Coaching of managers, an ongoing help-line and an audit process are normal standards throughout implementation.


• Assessment of technology, management systems and tools to ensure any new scheme or work patterns adopted can be managed effectively on an ongoing basis, for continued optimum deployment.

SMART Work Pattern/Roster Modelling

SMART’s Work Pattern Modelling consultancy is aimed at helping you develop workable, cost effective rosters and shift patterns, to not only improve your productivity and suit your staff’s personal needs, but meet working time agreements, health and safety issues and agreed working practices. Step by step a typical Work Pattern Modelling project might comprise:

• Analysis of your unique business cycles. The mix of certain and variable demand will determine the best patterns for you.


• Production of shift patterns to meet your unique labour requirements. This will include assessing the number of people by shift and time needed to satisfy the business activities.


• Accounting for constraints, such as maximum or minimum length of work periods, consecutive days at work, number of work hours in a period and break periods. Working time agreements, health and safety issues and agreed working practices are also incorporated.


• Development of workable rosters around these shift patterns. Using ‘what if’ scenarios, and working with you, SMART’s consultants decide on the best combination of shift designs for the business, taking into account the costs and skills balance each design offers.

Annual Hours

SMART’s solution for Annual Hours restructures your workrules to ensure that your employees work at times that are simultaneously most effective for your business and most attractive to your people. Ideal for companies with 100 employees and above, it reduces your payroll costs by up to 10-15%, makes employees happier and more productive, reduces absenteeism and creates a more agile, competitive business.

In fact, one SMART client now gives their staff 17 weeks holiday each year and still pays a lower wage bill - all due to a 60% increase in output and the elimination of overtime.

Step by step, a typical Annual Hours solution deployment comprises:

Business and skill analysis

The first step is to build a working structure that meets the unique needs of your business. Our consultants will analyse your daily and seasonal demands, taking your optimum ‘skill presence’ requirements and the total annual hours to be worked by each employee into account to build you a flexible, tailored roster system.

Worktime schedule and contracts

We’ll then develop new contracts in collaboration with your workers and their unions. A basic work-time schedule is supplemented by Reserve Hours, during which an employee should be available to work but may not be called in. Each employee is able to select how their holiday time is distributed - outside of your business demands - creating a work/life balance that best suits their personal circumstances.

For further information please contact SMART