“Sleep-in shifts” and the National Minimum Wage

On 19 March 2020, the Supreme Court held in Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake that care workers who were required to sleep at or near their workplace and be available to be called on during the night, are not entitled to the national minimum wage (NMW) for the whole of their “sleep-in shifts”.

This is a significant and much welcomed decision for care sector employers. Many such organisations may not have been able to afford to pay the NMW to each worker for an entire night-shift, rather than a lesser fixed allowance which is permitted for “sleep-in shifts” under the NMW legislation. Also, care sector employers will be relieved that the door has now been closed on huge back pay