Clockwatching BBC staff who won’t work 30 minutes more

PLANS to end the BBC gravy train have hit a roadblock – because staff won’t work even 30 minutes past their clocking off time without pay.

The broadcaster is slashing perks as it battles to save £800million a year.

It plans to stop staff claiming alcohol or lunch on expenses when working away from home. It also wants to slash overtime pay- ments, ordering staff to simply take time off in lieu, and refrain from claiming if they work half an hour past their 5pm clocking off time.

However, it appears this half-hour rule is a bridge too far. Union bosses have demanded that the BBC goes back to the drawing board amid fears they will ‘abuse’ the rule and make employees work for free.

The Bectu broadcasting union said BBC staff should not have to work past their scheduled hours on a regular basis. But Bectu’s position is likely to anger many licence fee payers who frequently work past their official hours.

The BBC also wants to put an end to bonus payments for irregular shifts. It has paid out more than £187million under the controversial ‘unpredictability allowances’ system, often handing staff an extra £5,000 a year.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘These new proposals set out a simpler and fairer way of working which recognise the demands of a modern broadcasting organisation.’