MEH Alliance · Production Workforce · July 2026

10 On / 4 Off Working Pattern

A clearer member-facing page for the production workforce 10/4 working pattern, nightshift pattern, annual leave rules, authorised absence rules, travel rules, Christmas treatment and paid-hour distinctions.

View colour paid hours Jump to FAQ Christmas rules
Days06:30 start

Day production workforce pattern, with walking time from 16:55.

Nights18:30 start

Night production workforce pattern, with walking time from 05:40.

Leave20 days

Annual leave based on a 4-day rotation.

AA10 days/year

Authorised Absence allocation, prorated for the rest of 2026.

Colour key

These colours identify the working and payment categories used in the paid-hours cards and pattern information below.

Scheduled weekday / basic working Saturday / OT1 split Sunday / OT2 Travel / return to work Rest day / new pattern Holiday movement Bank holiday
Important source issue kept visible: the source document gives two different notice positions for AA. The working-pattern section says 10 guaranteed AA days with 2 weeks’ notice. The FAQ later says AA can be approved by supervision with 1 week’s notice, otherwise Discipline Lead approval is needed. This should be confirmed before publishing as final advice.

Production workforce days

  • 20 minute walking time from 16:55.
  • 20 minute paid morning break.
  • 30 minute unpaid dinner break.
  • 20 days leave per year based on a 4-day rotation.
  • Two weeks off from the Tuesday of a rotation requires 8 days leave, returning Tuesday 06:30 unless it coincides with a travel day.
  • One week off from the Tuesday of a rotation requires 4 days leave, returning Monday 06:30.
  • Saturday and Sunday are automatically AA where the full-week rule applies and are not taken from the guaranteed AA allocation.
  • Bank holidays worked as part of the pattern attract the appropriate overtime rate and a day in lieu.
  • Bank holidays that fall on a rest day attract a day in lieu.
  • Anyone with travel time receives the full day, returning Wednesday 06:30.

Production workforce nights

  • 20 minute walking time from 05:40.
  • 20 minute paid break.
  • 30 minute unpaid dinner break.
  • 20 days leave per year based on a 4-day rotation.
  • Two weeks off from the Tuesday of a rotation requires 8 days leave, returning Tuesday 18:30 unless it coincides with a travel day.
  • One week off from the Tuesday of a rotation requires 4 days leave, returning Monday 18:30.
  • The travel day will be the Thursday prior to the weekend.
  • Anyone with travel time receives the full day, returning Tuesday 18:30.
  • Bank holidays worked as part of the pattern attract the appropriate overtime rate and a day in lieu.
  • Bank holidays that fall on a rest day attract a day in lieu.

Rules that apply across the pattern

10/4 Pattern FAQ

What will happen to my holidays at Christmas?

The 31 August public holiday will be moved to cover 1 day over Christmas for all teams. Workers will be given back 2 days from the held-back 6. To have these paid as holiday at Christmas, a new holiday request must be completed. Otherwise it will be recorded as AA.

When will my 2 days be returned?

This will be completed over the next few weeks while MEHA verifies who is on each pattern and aligns Kronos to the approved pattern. The initial focus is current pay weeks to make the transition smooth. Workers with self-service holiday booking must book this themselves in the app.

I believe I have been put on the wrong pattern. How do I change this?

The pattern was based on information sent from Discipline Leads to HR. Any change request must be formally requested and approved by the Discipline Directors. They will confirm to HR and Payroll to change the pattern.

If I wish to change to another work pattern, how do I request this?

Any change request must be formally requested via the Discipline Directors. Once approved, they will confirm to HR and Payroll to change the pattern.

I booked holidays and the shift-pattern change has changed the amount of days I need to take off. What will happen?

Payroll will review and make the necessary Kronos adjustments and honour the amount of days booked. The rest will be used from the AA balance for any weekday required. This is a manual process and may take several weeks. Workers with self-service holiday booking must do this themselves in the app. Allow time for the self-service app to be updated with the correct patterns.

When will I receive my travel and fares?

Each team has different travel days as set out in the periodic calendars. Travel and fares are only paid once the worker returns to site as expected and does not have UA before or after the leave. Team A and Nights have their travel day a week before Team B.

Can I work the Friday and Monday on my non-working days?

These are classed as overtime working. They are managed by Discipline Leads and the worker must be added to weekend working and approved to work. Monday and Friday non-working days are paid at 1.4 all day. Friday and Monday use normal weekday finish times. Saturday is 1.4 for the first 4 hours and 1.8 thereafter. Sunday is 1.8 all day. A worker can work Saturday and Sunday or another combination as long as there is a minimum of 2 days off due to fatigue regulations.

If I work any days on a travel weekend, will this impact my travel and fares?

Because teams work alternative weekends, this should only be for critical works and must be approved by a senior signatory. A worker must have 3 consecutive days off on the travel weekend because travel and fares are paid on the basis that the worker leaves to return home and comes back after the travel day. If there are not 3 consecutive days off, travel and fares will not be paid.

If I booked holidays during the week, will Saturday and Sunday automatically be AA?

To have the weekend as AA, a full week must be booked off. Week 1 is Tuesday to Friday with the following Saturday and Sunday as AA. Week 2 is Monday to Thursday with the prior Saturday and Sunday as AA. The travel day is included, and it only needs to be booked if the worker wants it paid as holiday. AA in this situation does not come off the entitlement.

If I booked holidays either side of Saturday and Sunday, will Saturday and Sunday automatically be AA?

Yes. If approved leave exists either side of Saturday and Sunday, the weekend is automatically AA.

If I booked only 1 day holiday one side of Saturday and Sunday, will Saturday and Sunday automatically be AA?

No. Holiday must exist both sides of the weekend. If not, the worker must apply for the weekend days and they will be deducted from the AA balance.

How many AA days do I receive?

10 days per year have been agreed, running January to December for all companies. Due to the 10/4 pattern start dates, the remaining balance is 5 days for the rest of 2026. The source FAQ says the AA allowance can be approved by supervision with 1 week’s notice, otherwise Discipline Lead approval is needed. Any further AA after the entitlement requires Discipline Lead approval.

I am a lodger. Can I take the full day off as travel?

Yes. It has been agreed that all lodgers can take the full day as travel. Only the allocated travel-time hours will be paid. The worker may work this day if agreed with the management team and work is available.

I have been asked to start at different times not covered by the 10/4 briefing times. How can this be changed?

Any change request must be formally requested via the Discipline Directors at least 2 weeks before starting any new work-pattern shift times. Once approved, they will confirm to HR and Payroll to create a new pattern. New 10/4 patterns must be created in Kronos, and payroll will confirm when completed and agree the transition date.

Can I use an AA on a weekday?

Yes. Allocated AA days can be used mid-week and will come off the entitlement.

Christmas and periodic leave treatment

Shift A / Night Shift A
  • 21 December: non-working day.
  • 22 to 23 December: 2 days from holiday entitlement or up to 2 days authorised absence.
  • 24 December: moved 31 August public holiday.
  • 25 December: working day, so public holiday for this day.
  • 26 December: moves to 28 December, public holiday for this day.
  • 29 to 31 December: 3 days from holiday entitlement.
  • 1 January: non-working day, added back to balance as day in lieu for the 2027 holiday year.
Shift B
  • 21 to 23 December: 3 days from holiday entitlement, or 1 day holiday plus up to 2 days authorised absence.
  • 24 December: moved 31 August public holiday.
  • 25 and 26 December: non-working days, so added back to holiday balances as days in lieu on 30 and 31 December.
  • 29 December: 1 day from holiday entitlement.
  • 1 January: working day, public holiday from 2027 entitlement.