A WOMAN is seeking compensation after complaining she was given no time off from her duties as residential manager of an Alcester complex of homes for retired people.

Elizabeth MacCartney told a Birmingham employment tribunal she was virtually on duty 24 hours a day at the Oversley House estate in Kinwarton Road, where she had tied accommodation.

The complex houses 56 retired residents in houses, bungalows and flats, which they have bought.

Mrs MacCartney made her compensation claim against Bigwood Associates Ltd of Stratford, the managing agents for the complex.

She is seeking compensation after claiming the Bigwood firm breached the Government's Working Time Regulations by not giving her the time off she believed she was entitled to under law.

The hearing was regarded as a test case. If Mrs MacCartney is successful, other residential managers on similar estates could make similar claims.

Tess Gill, representing Mrs MacCartney, told the tribunal no provision was made for lunch breaks and other time off for her and she was virtually on call 24 hours a day.

"There was no cover for her and being in tied accommodation at Oversley House meant she was always on call and at the disposal of her employer," said Mrs Gill.

"Just sitting in her accommodation and even sleeping should be classed as working time because she could be called out by the residents at any time."

Mrs Gill likened the situation to that of doctors and nurses who never knew when their services were needed.

Questions about Mrs MacCartney's wage in relation to her working hours were also raised.

The firm opposed Mrs MacCartney's claim over a two-day hearing. The firm challenged her comments about "off duty" being classed as working time.

Tribunal chairman Ron Hutchinson said the tribunal had a lot of evidence to consider and adjourned the hearing to a later date to make a decision.