These limit the working week to an average of 48 hours (although there is an opt-out), and the working day to an average of 8 hours. .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} No. You can’t work more than 48 hours a week on average - normally averaged over 17 weeks.This law is sometimes called the ‘working time directive’ or ‘working time regulations’. 1. Making a flexible working request. Furthermore, employees may not work for more than 4.5 hours without a break. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Contracts of employment and working hours, The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases, in the armed forces, emergency services or police, as a domestic servant in a private household, as a seafarer, sea-fisherman or worker on vessels on inland waterways, where working time is not measured and you’re in control, eg you’re a managing executive with control over your decisions. Already in the early 19th century it was recognized that working excessive hours posed a danger to workers' health and to their families. The Regulations can be varied either by collective, workforce or individual agreements (dependent upon the Regulation concerned). 2. The Working Time Regulations, which came into effect on 1 October 1998 (on 23 November 1998 in Northern Ireland), provide for paid holiday each year for all workers. All workers are covered, irrespective of the hours that they work and whether or not they are referred to as “employees”. Workers' Rights. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. 3. #block-opa-theme-content > div > div.guidance-search > div.csv-feed.views-data-export-feed {display:none;} Working hours includes any time when the worker is at the employer's disposal and is expected to carry out activities or duties for the employer. 1-866-487-2365 Flexible working is a way of working that suits an employee's needs, e.g. Ctrl + Alt + T to open/close. #views-exposed-form-manual-cloud-search-manual-cloud-search-results .form-actions{display:block;flex:1;} #tfa-entry-form .form-actions {justify-content:flex-start;} #node-agency-pages-layout-builder-form .form-actions {display:block;} #tfa-entry-form input {height:55px;} In principle, no more than 48 hours a week may be worked, 44 hours per week on average over a period of 12 consecutive weeks (up to a maximu… Young workers, apprentices and work experience. Employees over the age of 18 who aren’t part of the exceptions can choose to opt out and work more than 48 hours a week on average. [CDATA[/* >