Work and Employment
Working Time Regulations: Working Hours & Time Off For Employees
Summary
The UK's Working Time Regulations 1998 set out the minimum standards for weekly working hours, rest breaks, and annual leave entitlements for workers in the UK. However, employees in the UK do have the option to choose to work more than the 48-hour workweek. In this article, we'll break down the fundamental rights and protections of employees regarding working hours. We'll also cover the types of leave that employers are required to offer, like parental leave and time off for personal and domestic reasons. The WTR covers basic conditions like weekly hours, breaks, and holidays. The regulations also include rules on travel time and holiday pay, among other things. The maximum weekly working time in the UK is set at an average of 48 hours over any seven days, including overtime. Employers must take reasonable steps to make sure that this limit is not exceeded, considering the health and safety of their workers. Working time is calculated over 17-week periods, or 26 weeks for certain cases. If there's no specific agreement, any 17 weeks during the worker's employment is used. For workers employed for less than 17 weeks, the reference period for calculating working time is the period.
Key information
- Two uninterrupted rest periods of at least 24 hours each in every 14-day working period, or
- One uninterrupted rest period of at least 48 hours in every 14-day working period.
- Transportation sectors like air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway, and lake transport; work at sea; and activities of doctors in training.
- Situations where characteristics unique to certain services like the armed forces or police conflict with the regulations.
- Workers employed as domestic servants in private households.
- Workers whose working time is not measured or predetermined, such as managing executives, family workers, and workers officiating at religious ceremonies.
- Specific situations where workers are engaging in activities requiring continuity of service or production, or in exceptional circumstances beyond the employer's control, including security, healthcare, transportation, essential services, agriculture, and unforeseen events or accidents.
- Refuse to comply with illegal working time requirements imposed by the employer;
- Refuse to waive any rights given to them by the regulations;
- Refuse to sign certain agreements related to the regulations;
- Act as a representative or candidate for workforce representation;
- Bring legal action against the employer for violating their rights.
Practical guidance
Related topics
More in this area
Sources
- Lawhive — Working Time Regulations: Working Hours & Time Off For Employees
- Citizens Advice — If you're working too many hours
- Advicenow — Working hours and breaks at work
This is signposting information from the Legal Shaman wiki, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor for your situation.