Day 213 - 31 01 96 - Page 10

 
 

                                                                  DAY 213
 
                                            PAUL LEMAIRE, Cross-examined:
 
 
 
     1        one.  The Shift Manager would do that, and I would just
     2        remain on the floor while they were doing it.
     3
     4   Q.   Would it be fair to say that you assumed that anyone
     5        working on the shift after 12.00 was over 18 because you
     6        knew that it was contrary to Company policy?
     7        A.  No -- because the other Manager would check it; the
     8        other Manager that I was working with would check that.
     9        I would have had nothing to do with that, until just
    10        recently.
    11
    12   Q.   So, you were just assuming that the other Manager would
    13        comply with the Company policy?
    14        A.  I would hope that they would know that that person was
    15        18 or under 18 and they would take the appropriate action
    16        to let them go home.
    17
    18   Q.   Yes.  I think that is a "yes".  When you say you find it
    19        hard to believe that anyone would work 16 hour shifts for
    20        the length of time described by Mr. Beech, are you saying
    21        that people did work 16 hour shifts but not for ------
    22        A.  It would have been a one-off.  It might be once -- say,
    23        if I worked at McDonald's, it would not be like for 12 --
    24        if I can recall correctly, in the statement, saying 12 or
    25        16 hour shifts on the trot.  I have never known anyone to
    26        do that.
    27
    28   Q.   So, what, it might happen once a week or something like
    29        that?
    30        A.  No; once in their lifetime.
    31
    32   Q.   I did not mean once a week for each person each week.
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Some person on the payroll might work a
    35        16 hour shift once in a calendar week as each week came by?
    36        A.  Hardly anyone had to do 16 hour shifts.  The most they
    37        might do is nine or 10.  Only occasionally would they be
    38        asked to do a 16 hour shift, and that was quite
    39        infrequently.
    40
    41   MS. STEEL:   People also worked shifts of between 10 to 15 hours
    42        sometimes, as well?
    43        A.  Well, occasionally 10 hours, but once one-off of
    44        15 hours, depending if they wanted to stay on.  They were
    45        not forced to do it.
    46
    47   Q.   Whether or not they were forced to do it, it did happen?
    48        A.  Very occasionally.
    49
    50   Q.   And it did happen that some people would work 12 days in a 
    51        row? 
    52        A.  No. 
    53
    54   Q.   You do not remember that?
    55        A.  I do not remember anyone doing 12 days on the trot.
    56
    57   Q.   Not at 16 hours every day, but just people working for
    58        12 days in a row, ordinary shifts of whatever?
    59        A.  Not to my knowledge.  I am not aware of that.
    60
 
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