Know your rights over contracts, BMA says

27 August 2010

JUNIOR doctors should know their rights and understand their contracts, the BMA has said as part of a new campaign.

Trainees should be aware of the number of hours they can work and ensure their pay is correct. The BMA has launched its Know your contract, know your rights campaign to raise awareness of key issues.

Information is available on their website here covering everything from travel and relocation expenses to shadowing and induction.

Tom Dolphin, vice chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, said he was asked to do tasks for his induction in his own time before starting his first junior doctor post. “Apparently this tactic is now widely used by employers to get people to complete all the statutorily required stuff before you get there,” he said.

“I wrote back to the nice lady and explained that this sounded rather like work to me, and I would be happy to do this in return for time off in lieu when I arrived in the hospital, or money up front.

“I knew from the BMA guidance that not reimbursing me for time spent completing induction modules was tantamount to an ‘illegal deduction of wages’ under the Employment Rights Act.”