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Working time directive and maximum weekly working hours including how to calculate your weekly working hours and working time limits if you're a young worker.

• Overview

  You cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average - normally averaged…

• Calculating your working hours

  Average working hours are calculated over a ‘reference’ period, normally…

• Opting out of the 48 hour week

  You can choose to work more than 48 hours a week on average if you’re over…

Includes types of worker, employee rights, overtime and changes to contracts

• Updated: 15 October 2025

The rules on working hours - hour and limits, rests, health assessments and terms and conditions

• Hours and limits

  Staff who regularly work at least 3 hours during the ‘night period’ are…

• Exceptions to night work limits

  The limits on night working hours do not usually apply: in the armed…

• Health assessments

  Employers must offer workers a free health assessment before they become a…

This paper presents the evidence relating to the impacts of the working time regulations on the UK labour market. BIS analysis paper number 5.

• Updated: 24 December 2014

• Updated: 23 June 2022

A summary of working time regulations for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and crew ('mobile workers').

• Updated: 9 July 2025

The working time rules that apply to you depend on whether you drive a vehicle in scope of the assimilated or GB domestic drivers’ hours rules.

• Updated: 22 April 2025

• Updated: 31 May 2024

• Updated: 9 July 2025

Workers' rights to rest breaks at work - length of breaks, how your age affects rest breaks, exceptions to the rules for shift workers, young people, and drivers.