Working time and breaks

The UK Working Time Regulations established legal limits relating to weekly working time, rest periods and annual leave, with special provisions for the protection of night workers and young people at work. 

In general the Working Time Regulations provide rights to:

• a limit of an average 48 hours a week on the hours a worker can be required to work;
• paid annual leave;
• 11 consecutive hours' rest in any 24-hour period;
• a 20-minute rest break if the working day is longer than six hours;
• one day off each week;
• a limit on the normal working hours of night workers to an average eight hours in any 24-hour period, and an entitlement for night workers to receive regular health assessments.

There are special regulations for young workers, which restrict their working hours to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. The rest break is 30 minutes if their work lasts more than 4.5 hours. They are also entitled to two days off each week.

When planning overtime, holiday cover or shift rota's you will need to have due consideration for the Working Time Regulations.