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The Working Time Regulations 1998 set limits on working hours and minimum rest. They exist because long hours and too little rest cause fatigue, which leads to accidents and ill health. Some parts are health and safety law enforced by HSE and local authorities; others are employment rights that workers enforce through employment tribunals.
The main rules for adult workers
| Rule | Minimum standard |
|---|---|
| Weekly working time | No more than 48 hours a week on average, normally averaged over 17 weeks |
| Opt-out | Workers can agree in writing to work more than 48 hours, and can cancel the opt-out with notice |
| Rest break at work | 20 minutes uninterrupted if the working day is longer than 6 hours |
| Daily rest | 11 consecutive hours between working days |
| Weekly rest | 24 hours uninterrupted each week, or 48 hours each fortnight |
| Annual leave | 5.6 weeks a year, which can include bank holidays |
Night workers
Night workers should not work more than an average of 8 hours in any 24, normally averaged over 17 weeks. Night workers whose work involves special hazards or heavy physical or mental strain must not work more than 8 hours in any 24 at all. Employers must offer night workers a free health assessment before they start and regularly after that. There is no opt-out from the night work limits.
Young workers
Workers over school leaving age but under 18 have stricter rules: no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with no averaging and no opt-out; a 30 minute break if they work more than 4.5 hours; 12 hours daily rest; and 48 hours weekly rest. Our guide to young persons risk assessment covers the health and safety side.
Recent changes
From 1 January 2024, the record keeping rules were simplified. For leave years starting on or after 1 April 2024, irregular hours and part-year workers build up holiday at 12.07% of hours worked, and rolled-up holiday pay is allowed for them.
Fatigue is a health and safety risk
Meeting the legal minimums does not mean fatigue is managed. Long shifts, early starts, rotating patterns, long commutes and safety critical work all need thinking about in the risk assessment. Fatigue is also a factor in work-related stress.
The ACoP and official guidance
| Publication | Status | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| No ACoP | n/a | There is no ACoP. Government guidance on gov.uk covers the employment rights, and HSE guidance covers managing shift work and fatigue (HSG256). |
An Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) has special legal status under section 16 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. If you are prosecuted and did not follow it, you must show that you met the law in some other way that was just as good. Guidance on Regulations has no special legal status, but inspectors refer to it and following it is normally enough to comply. Our guide to UK health and safety legislation lists every law and its ACoP or guidance in one place.
Training that helps
Our shift working eLearning covers the health risks of shifts and nights. Managers who plan rotas and assess fatigue risks will benefit from IOSH Managing Safely, and the NEBOSH National General Certificate covers fatigue as a human factor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum working week in the UK?
48 hours a week on average, normally over 17 weeks, unless the worker has opted out in writing.
Can an employer force someone to opt out of the 48 hour limit?
No. The opt-out must be voluntary and in writing, and workers cannot be treated unfairly for refusing.
How long is the rest break in a working day?
20 minutes uninterrupted if the day is longer than 6 hours, or 30 minutes after 4.5 hours for young workers.
Who enforces the Working Time Regulations?
HSE and local authorities enforce the limits on working time and night work. Breaks, rest and holiday are enforced by workers through employment tribunals.
Read the source
The Working Time Regulations 1998, as amended including by the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023; gov.uk guidance on maximum weekly working hours, rest breaks, young workers and holiday entitlement; and HSE HSG256, Managing shiftwork. Facts checked on 7 October 2026.
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