Do I have to work on Sundays?

Who has to work on Sundays

For most workers, the answer is in your contract. You only have to work Sundays if your employment contract or written terms say so. If they do, you are expected to work Sundays like any other agreed day.

Shop and betting shop workers have extra rights. They can opt out of Sunday work even if their contract includes it.

Conditions for opting out

You can opt out of Sunday working if all of these apply:

• you work in a shop or a betting shop
• Sunday is not the only day you were employed to work
• you give your employer written notice that you want to opt out

Notice periods

During the notice period you must still work Sundays if your employer asks you to. Once it ends, you no longer have to.

Who cannot opt out

• Workers outside shops and betting shops whose contract includes Sundays. Their rights come from the contract.
• Shop or betting shop workers employed to work only on Sundays.

Special cases

Long-serving staff. Shop workers who started with their employer on or before 26 August 1994 do not have to work Sundays. The same applies to betting shop workers who started on or before 2 January 1995. These dates are for England and Wales. These workers do not need to give opt-out notice.

Employers' duty to tell you. An employer who needs staff to work Sundays must tell them in writing that they can opt out, within 2 months of them starting.

Protection. You cannot be dismissed or treated unfairly for choosing not to work on Sundays.

Pay. Your employer only has to pay extra for Sundays if your contract says so.

How to check where you stand

1. Read your contract or written statement of terms. Look for Sunday work and any Sunday pay rate.
2. Check whether your workplace counts as a shop or betting shop.
3. If you want to opt out, write a short dated letter saying you object to Sunday working. Keep a copy.
4. If you are treated badly after opting out, talk to your manager, then raise a grievance. Acas gives free advice.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: the GOV.UK rules above apply.
• Scotland: the same opt-out rights apply. They were extended to Scotland by the Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003, which came into force on 6 April 2004. The long-serving protection covers shop and betting workers already working for their employer before that date.
• Northern Ireland: shop and betting workers can also opt out with 3 months' written notice. The protected start dates are 4 December 1997 for shop workers and 26 February 2004 for betting workers. Complaints go to an industrial tribunal.

Related guides

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

Where this comes from

• Sunday working (GOV.UK)
• Sunday work (nidirect)
• Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)