What is the Working Time Directive?
The Working Time Regulations provide that: • Workers don’t work more than 48 hours a week; • Night workers don’t work more than eight hours a night and are offered regular health assessments; • Workers have a rest period of 11 consecutive hours between each working day; • Workers have an in-work rest break of 20 minutes when working more than six hours; • Workers have at least four weeks’ paid leave each year. Only in the case of the 48-hour week may individual workers choose to agree to ignore the regulations and work more than 48 hours. If they do, the agreement must be in writing and must allow the worker to bring the agreement to an end. Find out more about employment law.
