60 second guide:The Working Time Regulations

Essentially, the Working Time Regulations are: • a right to 5.6 weeks paid leave per year; • a limit of an average 48 hours per week that a worker can be required to work; • a right to a rest break of at least 20 minutes during a working day of six hours or more; • a right to 11 consecutive hours' rest per day – however, there are a number of special circumstances in which the entitlement to rest periods does not apply. These include where the activities involve a need for continuity of service or production or where there is a foreseeable surge of activity. Also, if a shift worker changes shift, it may not be possible for them to take their full rest entitlement before starting the new pattern of work. In such cases, the entitlement to daily and weekly rest does not apply. An adult worker is also entitled to one day off a week and this can be averaged over two weeks, plus: • a right to four weeks of paid leave per year; • a limit of an average eight hours work in any 24 hours which night workers can be required to work; and • a right to free health assessments for night workers. Young workers For young workers there is a limit of eight hours work per day and 40 hours per week. If a young worker is required to work more than four and a half hours at a time, they are entitled to a break of 30 minutes. A young worker is also entitled to 12 uninterrupted hours in each 24-hour period in which they work. Both these entitlements can only be altered or excluded in exceptional circumstances. Young workers are also entitled to two days off each week and this cannot be averaged over two weeks.