What are the standard working hours in the United Kingdom (UK)?

In the UK, working hours are regulated to ensure the well-being and fair treatment of employees. While there is flexibility in the number of hours an employee may work, there are also legal limits and standard practices that employers and employees should be aware of.


Standard and Maximum Working Hours

  • Standard Working Hours:
    The standard working hours for full-time employees in the UK are typically 37.5 hours per week. However, this can be amended in employment contracts to up to 40 hours per week, depending on the employer’s needs and the nature of the job.

  • Maximum Working Hours:
    The legal maximum working hours in the UK is 48 hours per week, averaged over a 17-week period. This includes any overtime worked. Employees can choose to opt out of this limit if they wish to work more, but this must be agreed upon in writing.


Overtime Work


Introducing Overtime: Overtime work must be addressed and agreed upon in the employment agreement (EA). Employers are not automatically required to offer overtime, nor are employees obligated to work it unless specified in their contract.


Compensation for Overtime: There are three main compensation options for overtime work:

  • No Overtime Pay (Statutorily Authorized):
    Employers are legally allowed to offer no additional pay for overtime work. However, the employee's average pay for the total hours worked, including overtime, must not fall below the national minimum wage.

  • Overtime Pay:
    If the employment contract includes provisions for overtime pay, the pay rates should be clearly stated in the contract. This could be a higher hourly rate for overtime hours worked.

  • Time Off in Lieu (TOIL):
    Instead of receiving overtime pay, employees may be offered time off in lieu. This means that for every hour of overtime worked, the employee can take equivalent time off at a later date. The terms for TOIL should be clearly outlined in the employment contract or agreed upon between the employer and employee.

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