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Working Time
Working Time Last reviewed on 01/08/2014 11:41
This page gives details of employees' rights and protections under the Working Time Regulations, including those for nightshift workers and young people.
Quick links: What is working time? Legislation on working time Basic rights and protections Employers' duties under the Working Time Regulations Rest periods Breaks Nightshift working Rest periods and breaks for nightshift workers Health Assessments for nightshift workers Further information on working time
What is working time? The Working Time Regulations state that working time is when someone is ‘working at his employers disposal and carrying out his activities or duties’. This can include: working lunches such as business lunches when a worker has to travel as part of their work, e.g. travelling salesmen when a worker is undertaking training that is job-related time spent abroad working, if a worker works for an employer who carries on business in Great Britain time spent waiting at the place of work for work to be allocated time spent working away from home, but not spent resting at the end of the working day, even if the worker is required to stay away from home overnight time spent ‘on call’ at the workplace will constitute working time, while time spent ‘on call’ when away from the workplace and not carrying out duties, is not working time. Only the time spent during the actual provision of services when on call but away from the workplace will count as working time if the worker is a home worker or carries out work at home with the prior agreement of the employer, then this is likely to count as working time. It does not include: routine travel between home and work rest breaks when no work is done time spent travelling outside normal working time training such as non-job-related evening classes or day-release courses. back to top
Legislation on working time The Working Time Directive is the European Directive that brought the Working Time Regulations to the UK in October 1998. The Working Time Regulations 1998 (external site) stipulate basic limits on working time and entitlement to periods of rest between working time, in-work breaks and to paid annual leave. The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (external site) came into force on 6 April 2003. They implemented restrictions on the working time of adolescents – those aged between 15 and 18, who are over compulsory school age, referred to as 'young workers' – and the circumstances in which they may work during night-time. A decision made in June 2008 by the EU Social Affairs committee has clarified the position in relation to the UK's continued right to opt-out of the 48-hour maximum. While these have not yet been ratified by the full Parliament, the proposed changes are included in italics wherever possible in the following section, to keep you up to date.
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Basic rights and protections The basic rights and protections that the Regulations provide are: a limit of an average of 48 hours a week which a worker can be required to work (though workers can choose by written agreement to work more if they want to) - a new 60-hour weekly average limit measured over three months is currently progressing through Parliament. It is also proposed that workers will not be able to opt-out until they have worked for a business for at least four weeks. a limit of an average of eight hours work in 24 hours which night workers can be required to work a right for night workers to receive free health assessments before commencing night work, and at regular intervals thereafter a right to 11 hours rest a day a right to a day off each week a right to an in-work rest break of at least 20 minutes if the working day is longer than six hours a right to a minimum of 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays). Workers have the right to paid annual leave from their first day of employment and it accrues at the rate of one-twelfth of the annual entitlement per month worked. A pro-rata entitlement is given to seasonal/casual employees and others who do not work for a full year, as well as to part time workers. adequate additional rest breaks for workers whose pattern of work puts their health and safety at risk. back to top
Employers' duties under the Working Time Regulations Record-keeping There is a requirement for employers to keep records that show that the weekly working time limit is complied with. It is for the employer to determine what records need to be kept for this purpose. They may be able to use existing records maintained for other purposes, such as pay, or can make new arrangements. Checks on time worked Employers need only make occasional checks of workers who do standard hours and who are unlikely to reach the average 48-hour limit. However, they should monitor the hours of workers who appear to be close to the working time limit and make sure they do not exceed it. It is also proposed that they will have to monitor to make sure the weekly average maximum of 60 hours is not exceeded by staff who opt-out of the existing working time limit. Employers must also keep an up-to-date record of workers who have agreed to work more than 48 hours a week. Additionally, employers must keep a record of any nightshift health assessments performed and the outcome. These records must be kept for two years. back to top
Rest periods An adult worker is entitled to an uninterrupted rest period of not less than 11 consecutive hours (12 hours for young persons) in each 24-hour period. Derogations from the regulations may be made with regard to shift work by agreement. However, in most cases, compensatory rest must be provided. An adult worker is also entitled to an uninterrupted rest period of not less than 24 hours in each seven-day period; or alternatively, if the employer so determines, either two uninterrupted rest periods (each of not less than 24 hours) in each 14day period, or one uninterrupted rest period of not less than 48 hours in each 14-day period. The entitlement to weekly rest is in addition to the 11-hour daily rest entitlement which must be provided, except where objective or technical reasons concerning the organisation of work would justify incorporating all, or part, of that daily rest into the weekly rest period. Certain professions are excluded from the above requirements. back to top
Breaks During the working day, an adult worker is entitled to a rest break if working more than six hours. Details of this rest break, including the duration, can be regulated by agreement, but if this is not achieved, the rest break will be for an uninterrupted period of not less than 20 minutes and there is an entitlement to spend that break away from the work station. The break should be taken during the six-hour period (not at the beginning or end of it), but otherwise at a time to be determined by the employer. Young persons are entitled to a break of 30 minutes if they work over 4½ hours. Certain professions are excluded from the above requirements. back to top
Night working Night time is the period between 11pm and 6am, though employers and workers can choose a different period. If they do, it must be at least seven hours long and include the period from midnight to 5am. A night worker is someone who normally works at least three hours at night: on most days worked on a proportion of the days work which is specified in a collective or workforce agreement often enough for it to be said that such hours are worked 'as a normal course'. Night workers should not work more than eight hours daily on average, including overtime, where it is part of a night worker’s normal hours of work. Nightly working time should be averaged out over a reference period, which is usually 17 weeks. This period can be longer if agreed in a workforce or collective agreement. However, a night worker cannot opt-out of the night working limit average of 8 hours on night work every 24 hours. Employers must keep record of night workers' working hours to prove they are not exceeding night working limits. Employers must keep the records for at least two years. back to top
Rest periods and breaks for night workers As workers must take at least two days off in every fortnight, this means that the average weekly limit for night working is 48 hours per week (six days at eight hours per day). No opt-out for this time limit is allowed. Young workers may not ordinarily work at night between 10pm and 6am, or between 11pm and 7am if the contract of employment provides for work after 10pm. However, exceptions apply in particular circumstances. Where a night worker’s work involves special hazards or heavy physical or mental strain, there is an absolute limit of eight hours in any 24 hour period working time each day – this is not an average. Work will involve a special hazard if it is identified: as such by agreement between an employer and workers in a collective agreement or workforce agreement as posing a significant risk by a risk assessment which an employer has conducted under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Mobile workers are excluded from the night work limits. Instead, they are entitled to ‘adequate rest’. ‘Adequate rest’ means that workers have regular rest periods. These should be sufficiently long and continuous to ensure that workers do not injure themselves, fellow workers or others and that they do not damage their health, either in the shortterm or in the longer term. For some workers, for example, security guards, caretakers and those doing jobs that cannot be interrupted, the Regulations restricting the length of night working to eight hours do not apply. As with day workers, night workers are entitled to at least 20 minutes rest during any period of work lasting six hours or more. back to top
Health assessments for night workers Night workers are entitled to a free health assessment prior to commencing on nightshift, and the employer must offer regular health assessments to nightshift workers thereafter. Employees do not have to take the opportunity to have a health assessment, but it must be offered by the employer. These health assessments may be in the form of a questionnaire or, where necessary, a medical assessment. Employers should get help from a suitably qualified health professional when devising and assessing the questionnaire. This could be from a doctor or nurse who understands how night working might affect health. As with all health assessments, employers must keep a record of: the name of the night worker when the assessment was offered when the assessment was carried out the results of the assessment. The health assessment should take into account the type of work that will be done, and the restrictions on the worker’s working time under the regulations. New and expectant mothers, and young workers should also be given special consideration. If an employee's health is affected by night work they should, if it is possible, be offered alternative suitable day work. back to top
Further information on working time Email your query now Call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211 Guide to the Working Time Regulations (external site) Comprehensive guide to the WTR from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly The Department for Trade and Industry). WorkSMART (external site) Advice on working hours, holidays, breaks and leave. It’s About Time (external site) Campaign site on reducing long working hours from the Trades Union Congress, with information and downloads. Working hours (external site) Information on working hours, rights to time off and flexible working from The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). back to top
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