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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…

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…

Includes employment status, workers' rights and changes to contracts

• Updated: 15 October 2025

Overtime law - what is overtime, overtime pay, employee rights, part-time workers and time off in lieu

An explanation of the types of work and the working hours for which you must pay the minimum wage.

• Updated: 1 April 2025

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

• Updated: 15 October 2025

Minimum wage rates for different types of paid employment - time work, output work, unmeasured work, salaried hours work.

Employment status (worker, employee, self-employed, director or contractor) affects employment rights and employer responsibilities in the workplace

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.

• Updated: 8 June 2022