Working Hour Limits
Most adult workers cannot be forced to work for longer than 48 hours per week and young workers (under 18) should not work longer than 40 hours a week. However, there are still some workers to whom this working time limit does not apply, including the armed forces, sea transport workers, domestic servants and workers who freely choose how long they work.
Workers can choose to opt out of the 48 hours limit and work longer than 48 hours per week, but they must do so freely and in writing. They can also choose to opt back into the 48 hour limit, without suffering any unfair treatment or dismissal for doing so. Employees must, however, give ample notice to their employer that they wish to opt back into the limit.
This 48 hour period for adult workers can be calculated by taking the average number of hours of work an employee does per week over a 17 week period. Work counts as all their normal responsibilities, as well as any training, extra work-related travel time, overtime, working lunches and time spend on-call in the workplace. However, lunch breaks, travelling to and from work, holiday, volunteered overtime and time spent on-call away from the workplace do not count as working hours.
