10. Hours of work

This chapter covers the regulations and latest union, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance and case law related to working time. It starts by outlining the changes to taking holidays and working time rules for drivers made during the Covid-19 pandemic. The rest of the chapter covers all aspects of the Working Time Regulations 1998, including how they are interpreted and enforced in relation to travel time, union duties and time “on call”, as well as which workers are covered by the law. It further covers sector-specific regulations for transport workers and drivers, working time regulations for children and young workers, the UK’s opt out rule, night and shift workers, rest time, how to record working time, as well as all the different aspects of holiday entitlement and pay.