How many hours can I be made to work?

What the Working Time Regulations are

The Working Time Regulations are the law that limits how long you can be asked to work. They also give you rest breaks and paid holiday. They apply to workers, not just employees.

The main limits for adults

Your contract can give you more than these minimums. The rest break does not have to be paid unless your contract says so.

How the 48 hour average works

Your hours are usually averaged over 17 weeks. So you can work more than 48 hours in some weeks, as long as the average stays at 48 or below.

Example: you work 60 hours a week for 6 weeks and 30 hours a week for 11 weeks. That is 690 hours over 17 weeks, an average of about 40.6 hours. This is within the limit.

The 17 weeks can be stretched to up to 52 weeks if this is agreed, for example with a trade union.

What counts as working time

Counts:

• job training and travel that is part of your job
• working lunches and business meals
• time on call at your workplace
• paid overtime, and unpaid overtime you are asked to do
• time working abroad for a UK employer

Does not count:

• breaks when no work is done
• normal travel to and from work (unless you have no fixed workplace)
• on call time away from work
• unpaid overtime you choose to do
• holidays

If you have more than one job, your total hours across all jobs should not average more than 48.

Opting out of the 48 hour week

If you are 18 or over, you can choose to work more than 48 hours on average. This is called opting out.

• It must be voluntary and in writing.
• Your employer can ask, but you cannot be sacked or treated unfairly for saying no.
• You can cancel at any time. You must give at least 7 days' notice, or longer (up to 3 months) if you agreed that.

Some workers cannot opt out, such as airline staff, workers on ships or boats, and some road transport workers. Night workers cannot opt out of the night work limit.

Under 18s

Young workers cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, and their hours cannot be averaged. They get a 30 minute break if they work more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest and 48 hours' weekly rest.

Jobs not covered by the 48 hour limit

These include jobs that need 24 hour staffing, the armed forces, emergency services and police, security and surveillance, domestic workers in private homes, and senior managers who control their own hours.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

The same rules apply in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own Working Time Regulations with the same 48 hour average over 17 weeks and the same opt out rules.

Related guides

• How much holiday am I entitled to?
• Do I have to work on Sundays?
• What rights do I have on a zero hours contract?
• How do I work out my holiday pay?
• What rest breaks am I entitled to at work?

Where this comes from

• Maximum weekly working hours (GOV.UK)
• Calculating your working hours (GOV.UK)
• Opting out of the 48 hour week (GOV.UK)
• Rest breaks at work (GOV.UK)
• Rest breaks for young workers (GOV.UK)
• Night working hours (GOV.UK)
• Holiday entitlement (GOV.UK)
• Working time limits (nidirect)