Working Time Regulations
Claims

The Working Time Regulations came into force following the introduction of the Working Time Regulations 1998. The Regulations provide employees with the following rights:-

• Average 48 hour week. Employees can opt to work longer should they wish. The average worked is averaged out over 17 weeks (or whatever period the employee has actually worked should it be shorter than 17 weeks). The period it is averaged out over is known as the ‘reference period’ and it can be extended to 26 weeks in certain instances (e.g. hospital work). It can even be extended by up to 52 weeks where the employer and employee consent.
• Night workers: limit of 8 hours work average in 24 hours.
• Night workers: right to free health assessment both prior to commencing work and at regular intervals thereafter
• Uninterrupted rest break of 11 hours in every 24 hours.
• One day off per week.
• Rest break of 20 minutes for every 6 hours worked consecutively.
• Four weeks paid leave per annum.
• Sufficient additional rest breaks for those where the nature of their work places their health and safety at risk.