The Law on working time sets rules for the maximum weekly working hours and how employees can work more hours if they choose, rest during the working day, week and year, young workers’ maximum working hours and rest breaks, night work, holiday entitlement and more. This is to protect everyone’s health, safety and wellbeing and applies to employees, workers, agency workers, apprentices, casual and seasonal workers and zero hours’ workers.
Currently by law almost all employees over the age of 18 are limited to working no more than 48 hours a week on average, but there are a few exceptions including emergency services and armed forces. Those over 18 can opt out of the 48-hour weekly limit if they agree to work more hours and increase their net pay.
In March 2023 a bill was introduced to amend the Working Time Regulations 1998, to reduce the maximum working week from 48 hours to 32 hours per week. The latest news is, the bill has not been passed yet, the next stage for this bill is scheduled to take place on Friday 12 May 2023 for the second reading. If the bill does get passed this would mean that any hours’ worker over 32 hours per week would be classed as overtime.
Follow us on LinkedIn or head over to our website for further information to follow next week on this bill.
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