Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) implemented the European Union (EU) directive on working time in the UK. The directive was designed to protect workers’ health and safety by imposing legal limits on the maximum length of the working week, and by requiring paid holidays, breaks and rest periods.

Core rights

Under the WTR, most UK workers have the right to:

• a maximum average working week of 48 hours, including overtime;

• a maximum of eight hours’ night work;

• a daily rest period of 11 hours;

• a day off per week;

• a rest break if working more than six hours; and

• paid annual leave of 5.6 weeks.