FederacindeServiciosPrivadosdelsindicatoComisionesobreras(CC.OO.

)vTyco
IntegratedSecuritySLandTycoIntegratedFire&SecurityCorporationServiciosSA.

Introduction.
TheWorkingTimeDirective1definesworkingtimeasanyperiodduringwhichthe
worker is working, at the employer's disposal and carrying out his activity or duties, in
accordance with national laws and/or practice. Any period which is not working time is
regardedasarestperiod.
The companies Tyco Integrated Security and Tyco Integrated Fire & Security
CorporationServicios('Tyco')carryout,inthemajorityofSpanishprovinces,abusinessthat
involvesinstallingandmaintainingantitheftsecuritysystems.In2011Tycocloseditsoffices
intheprovincesandassignedallitsemployeestothecentralofficeinMadrid(Spain).

Background.

ThetechniciansemployedbyTycoinstallandmaintainsecurityequipmentinhomes

andonindustrialandcommercialpremiseslocatedwithinthegeographicalareaassignedto
them,sotheyhavenofixedplaceofwork.Thatareacanconsistofallorpartoftheprovince
inwhichtheyworkandsometimesmorethanoneprovince.Theworkerseachhavetheuseof
acompanyvehiclefortravellingeverydayfromtheirhomestothevariousplacesofwork
andtoreturnhomeattheendoftheday.Thedistancesbetweentheworkers'homesandthe
placeswheretheyaretocarryoutworkvaryagreatdealandaresometimesmorethan100
kilometers,takinguptothreehourstodrive.Inordertocarryouttheirduties,theworkersare
eachprovidedwithamobilephone,whichtheyusetocommunicateremotelywiththecentral
officeinMadrid.Ontheeveoftheirworkingday,theworkersreceiveatasklistidentifying
thevariouspremisesthattheyarerequiredtovisitthenextdaywithintheirgeographicalarea
ofworkandthetimesoftheircustomerappointments.
Tycocounts thetimespenttravellingbetweenhomeandcustomers (i.e.thedaily
journeysbetweenthehomesoftheworkersandthepremisesofthefirstandlastcustomers
designatedbyTyco)notasworkingtime,butasarestperiod.Tycocalculatesdailyworking
hoursbycountingthetimeelapsingbetweenwhenitsemployeesarriveatthepremisesofthe
firstcustomerandwhentheyleavethepremisesofthelastcustomer;thus,onlytheperiodof
work on the premises and of the journeys between each customer is taken into account.

Beforetheclosureoftheregionaloffices,however,Tycousedtocountthedailyworking
timeofitsemployeesasstartingwhentheyarrivedattheoffice(theemployeesthenpicking
upthevehicletheyweretouseandreceivingthelistofcustomerstobevisitedandthetask
list)andendingwhentheyreturnedtotheofficeintheevening(toleavethevehiclethere).
Legalcontext.
Article1ofDirective2003/88provides:
1.ThisDirectivelaysdownminimumsafetyandhealthrequirementsfortheorganizationof
workingtime.2.ThisDirectiveshallapplyto:(a)minimumperiodsofdailyrest,weeklyrest
andannualleave,tobreaksandmaximumweeklyworkingtime;and(b)certainaspectsof
nightwork,shiftworkandpatternsofwork.
The European Union Working Time Directive 2003/88 (the Directive) affords
employeesseveralrightsincludingthenumberofhourstheycanwork,restbreaks,breaks
betweenworkingdaysandholidayentitlement.Inparticular,theDirectivestatesthatunless
employeesoptout,theycanonlyberequiredtoworkamaximumof48hoursperweek.
Conclusion.
TheDirective2003/88providesclearandspecificrequirementsintendedtoimprove
thelivingandworkingconditionsoftheworkerandaswellguaranteeabetterprotectionof
thesafetyhealthofworkersbygivingthematleastheminimumofrestperiodsandadequate
breaks.
Whenworkersweretravellingfromhometotheirfirstcustomerandfromthelast
customer to their homes they are not outside the scope of their employers management
power.Thetravellingisdoneinregardstothejobdutiesfortheemployer.Inmyopinionthe
time that the worker spends or road should be considered working time within that
provision,thetimespentmustnotbeevaluatedasresttime. Theworkerisgoingtoa
specificplace,agivendestinationbecauseoftheworktaskreceivedduetohisemployment
relationship.Theworkerdoes notfreelydisposeofhis timewhiletravellingonbusiness
purposes.