UGL Salute demands meal voucher rights for healthcare shift workers

UGL Salute has called on healthcare companies to ensure uniform application of meal voucher rights for shift workers following a recent ruling by the Court of Cassation. Gianluca Giuliano, national secretary of UGL Salute, emphasized that workers performing shifts exceeding six hours, including night shifts and holidays, must not be penalized regarding their right to a meal service or its monetary equivalent.

The ruling establishes that the right to a canteen service or compensatory meal vouchers is linked to workdays exceeding six hours, regardless of whether the employee works a standard or shift schedule. This is intended to ensure necessary breaks for physical and psychological recovery. Giuliano has urged healthcare organizations to verify past entitlements for employees who may have been denied these benefits.