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Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations 1998 impose limits on workers' hours of work. Workers cannot lawfully be required to work more than an average of 48 hours a week.

However, a worker may agree to opt out of this weekly working time limit and work more than an average of 48 hours a week as long as he or she does so voluntarily and in writing.

The Working Time Regulations 1998 also give workers the right to a minimum daily rest period between each working day or shift, and to a minimum weekly rest period.


    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Pay hikes inevitable if UK loses opt-out from EU Working Time Directive

    by Helen Gilbert 10 Nov 2008
    by Helen Gilbert 10 Nov 2008

    Employers will face increased pay bills if people are banned from working more than 48 hours per week, senior HR...

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Working Time Regulations

    MEPs vote to axe Working Time Directive opt-out

    by Louisa Peacock 5 Nov 2008
    by Louisa Peacock 5 Nov 2008

    MEPs have voted to ban people in Britain from choosing to work more than 48 hours per week â€“ a “bitter...

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Working Time Regulations

    CBI calls for MEPs to keep working time opt-out

    by Louisa Peacock 5 Nov 2008
    by Louisa Peacock 5 Nov 2008

    MEPs must reject proposals that would ban people in Britain from choosing to work more than 48 hours per week,...

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Working Time Regulations

    Working time opt-out may be under threat from MEPs

    by Greg Pitcher 27 Oct 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 27 Oct 2008

    Fears have grown for the UK’s cherished opt-out from the Working Time Directive, with claims that even Labour MEPs will...

    • Case law
    • Employment law
    • Pay & benefits

    Working time: Hughes v Jones and Jones t/a Graylyns Residential Home

    by David Bradley 24 Oct 2008
    by David Bradley 24 Oct 2008

    Hughes v Jones and Jones t/a Graylyns Residential HomeFactsMrs Hughes was employed by Graham and Lynne Jones at Graylyns Residential...

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Working Time Regulations

    Working Time Directive opt-out under threat

    by Greg Pitcher 21 Oct 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 21 Oct 2008

    The UK is struggling to keep the Working Time Directive opt-out clause it thought it had secured with concessions on...

    • Case law
    • Employment law
    • Working Time Regulations

    Working Time Directive: Miles v Linkage Community Trust Limited

    by Personnel Today 15 Sep 2008
    by Personnel Today 15 Sep 2008

    This case concerned a worker in a care home whose activities required continuous service around the clock. This working pattern...

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Pay & benefits

    One tenth of IT professionals work unpaid overtime

    by Louisa Peacock 27 Aug 2008
    by Louisa Peacock 27 Aug 2008

    One in 10 IT workers is not paid for working overtime, a survey has revealed.Research conducted by online recruitment specialist...

    • Employment law
    • Health and safety
    • Latest News

    Junior doctors still working more than 48 hours a week

    by Mike Berry 27 Aug 2008
    by Mike Berry 27 Aug 2008

    New figures showing that half of junior doctors are working in excess of 48 hours a week are “worrying” for...

    • Stress
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Small business owners work 50-hour weeks

    by Mike Berry 19 Aug 2008
    by Mike Berry 19 Aug 2008

    UK small business owners are clocking up 50 working hours every week, according to a survey by Bank of Scotland...

    • Employment law
    • France
    • Latest News

    France scraps 35-hour working week limit

    by Greg Pitcher 25 Jul 2008
    by Greg Pitcher 25 Jul 2008

    French president Nicolas Sarkozy has successfully abolished the country’s controversial 35-hour working week limit.
    A law passed by the country’s...

    • Employment law
    • Working Time Regulations

    Working Time Directive: flexible friend or foe?

    by Blair Adams 10 Jul 2008
    by Blair Adams 10 Jul 2008

    Once again the UK has kept its opt-out from the directive – but there are a few grey areas.

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Working Time Regulations

    EEF warns that 48-hour working time opt-out war is far from won

    by Guy Logan 13 Jun 2008
    by Guy Logan 13 Jun 2008

    The battle over the right to keep the UK’s opt-out of the 48-hour working week may have been won, but...

    • Employment law
    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
    • Latest News

    UK government retains opt-out from Working Time Directive

    by Guy Logan 10 Jun 2008
    by Guy Logan 10 Jun 2008

    The UK has secured a deal to keep its opt-out from the Working Time Directive following a meeting of European...

    • Agency workers
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    European ministers thrash out agency workers and working time deal

    by Mike Berry 9 Jun 2008
    by Mike Berry 9 Jun 2008

    European employment ministers are attempting to thrash out deals on agency workers and working time at a meeting in Luxembourg.Ministers...

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