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Emails While Commuting 'Should Count as Work', Researchers Say (bbc.com)
Commuters are so regularly using travel time for work emails that their journeys should be counted as part of the working day, researchers say. From a report: Wider access to wi-fi on trains and the spread of mobile phones has extended the working day, a study from the University of the West of England says. The study examined 5,000 rail passengers on commuter routes into London as wi-fi became more available. "I am a busy mum and I rely on that time," one commuter told researchers. The study, to be presented at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday, found that 54% of commuters using the train's wi-fi were sending work emails. Others were using their own mobile phone connections for work emails.
For some context, UK labor law limits weekly work to 48 hours total. If commuting while performing measurable and exclusively work focused activity is by policy made work hours due to employer pressures, then it reduces the legal amount remaining. Largely this is a youth protective measure, and you could opt out if an adult able to buy your own alcohol, etc. it must be entirely voluntary (not condition of being hired) and there are also occupational restrictions that enforce it as a rigid limit. Those jobs include "airline staff a worker on ships or boats a worker in the road transport industry, eg delivery drivers (except for drivers of vehicles under 3.5 tonnes using GB Domestic drivers’ hours rules) other staff who travel in and operate vehicles covered by EU rules on drivers’ hours, eg bus conductors a security guard on a vehicle carrying high-value goods"