A few points to answer here.
I'm on a salaried management contract with minimum hours. The expectation is that sufficient hours per week are worked to ensure everything gets done, with a minimum of 37 hours. When all goes well this equates to 5x 9-5 days per week. When **** is hitting the fan, weekends are worked (and many people in our offices have to do this, contrary to 'outside opinions' it might seem.) There is no paid overtime, and many people work at home to get things done. I can't think of anyone who walks away from the job if it isn't done, we have things called accountability and work-pride.
If you're telling me your contractual hours (presumably based on a 35hr, 4-day basic week, with 8h45 average turn length) results in each individual working 13/14 days consistently in order to cover the timetable, then I would love to see the numbers to back this up. If some people are having to do this, its because so many others are milking the system. This pretty much backs up my original argument. If more people pulled then there's less work for everyone overall.
Turning up and doing the normal day's work does not deserve special thanks or appreciation from the employer. That is what your pay packet is for. If you want a pat on the back, this is earned by going above and beyond.
When I sign on for duty (at the allotted time) the Company give me a sheet of A4 paper (sometimes 2 sheets if I am really lucky) listing what trains I will
be working, where those trains will be stopping, when and where I will be having my break and any other relevant information, once I have completed all the work on that sheet of paper I have complied with my contract so I can go home, then it goes base over apex I am expected to stay on up to 30 minutes longer than my booked finishing time, that is the end of the contract*.
If the company have 30 trains sat there without drivers why do you expect that to be my problem, I have completed everything I am contracted and expected to do!
Are you saying that once you have completed your days work you would be quite happy for 'the company' to drop somebody else's workload (possibly from a different department) onto your desk and expect you to get on with it, I dont think so somehow!
There is a world of difference from taking pride in seeing the job through and being taken the wee wee out of, dont confuse the two!
* I have actually stayed on many hours after that on numerous occasions but the point still stands.