Under the working time regulations in the UK, the maximum amount of hours an employee can work in a single shift is 12 hours, with an absolute maximum of 14 hours. This does not include any breaks for rest or meals.
However, it is important to note that under the regulations, the average maximum amount of working hours an employee can work must not exceed 48 hours per week. This average maximum is calculated over a reference period based on the individual’s work pattern.
The reference period for any averaging of hours is 17 weeks for both adults and young workers.
The complete set of Working Time Regulations can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1833/made
Is a 13 hour shift legal UK?
Yes, a 13-hour shift is generally legal in the UK, but there are certain restrictions in place. These restrictions are in place to protect the safety and wellbeing of workers.
The Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended) state that the maximum average working week cannot exceed 48 hours and that the number of hours worked in any one week must not exceed 60 hours. Additionally, the regulations state that workers should not be required to work more than 4 hours without taking a continuous break of at least 15 minutes.
This break does not need to be paid.
Staff may also be required to take an additional 20-minute rest break when working for more than 6 hours, which must be taken away from their workstation/desk. This rest break should be unpaid, unless agreed otherwise in the worker’s contract.
Employers must also adhere to the provisions laid out in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999, which require employers to pay the National Minimum Wage for their employee’s working time.
It is important to note that shifts of 13 or more hours have specific health and safety requirements, so employers must carry out a risk assessment to identify any hazards that may be present and to ensure that their employees are able to work safely.
Employers should also ensure that workers are given sufficient rest breaks and that they are given the opportunities to rest during their shift.
Overall, a 13-hour shift can indeed be legal in the UK subject to the conditions outlined above.
Is it legal to work 12 hours a day in the UK?
No, it is not legal to work more than 48 hours per week on average in the UK, including overtime. This is because of the Working Time Regulations 1998. While it is possible for an employer to ask an employee to work more than 48 hours in a week, the employee must give their agreement to do so and be given the opportunity to opt out in writing.
The UK also has Rest Day Working laws which state that workers cannot work more than an average of 48 hours a week over 17 weeks, and are entitled to two consecutive days off each week. Furthermore, employees are entitled to at least a 20 minute rest break if they work more than six hours at a time.
What is the longest legal shift UK?
Under UK labour law, the longest possible legal shift for most workers aged over 18 is 13 hours per day and 48 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks. Workers on night shifts may work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks.
In any 24-hour period, the worker must have 11 hours of uninterrupted rest, which may need to be taken in the form of several shorter breaks. Moreover, workers are entitled to one day’s rest in each seven-day period.
In some specific cases, workers may receive an average working time of up to 60 hours per week over an extended reference period, but only under certain conditions and with the express agreement of the employer and the employee.
However, no worker can work for more than 48 hours in any single week unless an opt-out agreement is in place.
Can you work 18 hours a day UK?
No, generally it is not possible to work 18 hours a day in the UK. The UK Working Time Regulations 1998 established the statutory maximum 48 hour working week, meaning that an individual cannot legally work more than 48 hours a week in the UK, including overtime.
This is further enforced by the Working Time Directive, which came into effect in 2003. The Directive states that employees cannot work more than an average of 48 hours a week over 17 weeks – and this is calculated including overtime.
This means that even if an employee agrees to work more than 48 hours a week, it cannot exceed an average of 48 hours over a 17 week period. Additionally, employers must ensure that their employees take at least 11 hours of rest in any 24 hour period and that the total working hours for the week, inclusive of overtime should not exceed 60 hours.
What are illegal working hours UK?
Under current UK law, the Working Time Regulations 1998 dictate that all workers’ cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average. This average is taken over a 17-week period, so there could potentially be periods where you are working more than 48 hours in one week.
There is also no absolute maximum on the number of hours you can work in one day, with the only restriction being that your daily working hours must be no more than an average of 8 hours over a 17-week period.
Furthermore, people under the age of 18 are not allowed to work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, regardless of their working pattern. They must also have at least two consecutive weeks off from work every year.
Employees are also entitled to 11 consecutive hours of rest in any 24 hour period, with a break of at least 20 minutes for any shift of more than 6 hours. Additionally, employees must have one day off work every week, plus an uninterrupted 20 minute rest break if the working day lasts more than 6 hours.
Finally, night workers are subject to both legally binding and voluntary rest requirements, set out in the Working Time Regulations. Night workers are defined as those who normally work at least three hours of their daily working time in the night time.
Night workers must not work more than an average of 8 hours in 24 hours, and must have at least 11 hours of rest between working days. For night workers, this means they must have at least 24 hours off work per week, in addition to their other rights.
In summary, in terms of illegal working hours, the key points for employees in the UK are:
– No more than 48 hours per week on average
– No more than 8 hours a day for people aged under 18
– 11 hours consecutive rest in every 24 hours
– 1 day off per week
– For night workers, 24 hours off in a week, 11 hours’ consecutive rest in every 24 hours
