The 48-hour week, breaks and rest

The rules

• Working week: no more than 48 hours on average, usually over 17 weeks, unless you've opted out in writing.
• Break: at least 20 minutes if you work more than 6 hours (30 minutes after 4.5 hours if you're under 18).
• Daily rest: 11 hours in a row between working days.
• Weekly rest: 24 hours each week, or 48 hours each fortnight.

More than one job

Your hours across all your jobs count together. Employers should check whether you work elsewhere.

Opting out

You can opt out of the 48-hour limit in writing, and cancel the opt-out with at least 7 days' notice (up to 3 months if your agreement says so). You can't be treated unfairly for refusing to opt out.

How the average works

The 48-hour limit is an average, usually over 17 weeks. So 60 hours one week and 36 the next averages 48. Holiday and sick days don't count as working time, so when you're off, the average is worked out using extra days from the next weeks instead.

Example: over 17 weeks you can work up to 816 hours (17 × 48). If you've already worked 600 hours in the first 12 weeks, you have 216 left for the last 5 weeks, about 43 a week.

Under 18s

Workers aged 16 and 17 can't work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, there's no averaging, and they can't opt out. They're entitled to a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours and 12 hours' rest between working days.

Exceptions

Some jobs aren't covered by the 48-hour rule, including the armed forces, emergency services in some situations, and people who control their own working time. Security work and some care and hospital work can have breaks and rest rules varied, as long as you get equivalent compensatory rest.

Keep your own record

Keep a dated record of every shift on your phone with Shiftaan. It's the evidence you'll want if your pay is ever wrong. Try it.

Common questions