To: Pact CEO Nigel Warner & all studios and broadcasters
End long hours culture in film & TV
End long hours culture in Film & TV
“I cried at work from pure exhaustion, it was humiliating. I never see my family, I neglect most of my personal life to be able to keep up with the hours.”
Anonymous
Behind the glitzy image of film and TV is a workforce pushed to the limit. Workers are routinely asked to "break turnaround".
A worker is considered to have ‘broken turnaround’ when they are required by their employer to return to work within less than 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. This is in breach of workplace rights.
A worker is considered to have ‘broken turnaround’ when they are required by their employer to return to work within less than 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. This is in breach of workplace rights.
Freelancers across the industry are routinely working 14-16 hour days, often with little rest, few breaks, and no meaningful increase in pay. Long hours culture is the norm.
Bectu's Broken Turnaround survey revealed over 500 crew members revealed widespread breaches of basic turnaround times, alongside testimonies that expose a culture putting workers at risk.
Despite years of promises, the industry has failed to act.Talk of work life balance means nothing without real change. Enough is enough.
Nigel Warner has recently been appointed CEO of Pact, the UK screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies, who along with the wider industry could help end long hours culture in collaboration with Bectu.
Welcome to the job Nigel, now is the perfect time to finally end long hours culture in film and TV.
Nigel Warner has recently been appointed CEO of Pact, the UK screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies, who along with the wider industry could help end long hours culture in collaboration with Bectu.
Welcome to the job Nigel, now is the perfect time to finally end long hours culture in film and TV.
We are calling on Pact CEO Nigel Warner and the wider industry to:
- Enforce safe working hours and proper rest periods
- Guarantee regular, protected breaks
- Make overtime voluntary, not expected
- Pay premium rates for all overtime
- Commit to collective agreements that protect crew
Sign this petition to demand safer, fairer working lives for everyone behind the camera.
Why is this important?
Long hours are dangerous. Fatigue leads to accidents, harms mental and physical health, and puts lives at risk on set. Enough is enough.