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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…

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

• Overview

  The National Minimum Wage is worked out at an hourly rate, but it applies…

• Paid by the hour

  Workers paid according to the number of hours they are at work are classed…

• Paid an annual salary

  Most people paid an annual salary are classed as doing ‘salaried hours…

• Paid per task or piece of work done

  Workers paid per task they perform or piece of work they do (known as…

• Paid in other ways (unmeasured work)

  If the work is not covered by any of the other types of work, it’s…

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.

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

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

Requesting flexible working, how to make an application, what business reasons an employer can give to reject an application and how to appeal.

Guidance on zero hours contracts - includes information on how to use them, employment rights and alternatives.

• Updated: 28 August 2026

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

• Updated: 1 April 2025

Includes employment status, workers' rights and changes to contracts

• Updated: 15 October 2025