London School of Accountancy and Management - Working Time regulation, Equal Opportunities, Working hours

Working time regulations
Equal opportunities

From October 1st 1998, important new Regulations came into force affecting most people working in the UK as well as companies and temporary work firms.

Working hours

The Regulations state that on average you should not be required to work more than 48 hours each week, unless you agree to do so in writing. Temporary or contract work is all about flexibility, and from time to time companies may want you to work for longer hours. For this reason you may be asked to work for more than 48 hours a week on average, though of course you are under no obligation to do so. You should note that the maximum 48-hour week is an average number of hours.

That average is worked out over a 17-week period (longer in some sectors). In other words, even if you have not agreed in writing to work more than 48 hours per week there may be some weeks when you do work longer than 48 hours. This is permitted provided that the average number of hours over a 17-week period does not exceed 48. It is also important to remember that if you have been working for an employer for less than 17 weeks, the hours you work are averaged over the actual number of weeks you have been working.

Daily rest

You are entitled to 11 hours rest from work in each 24 hours. If you are under the age of 18 you are entitled to 12 hours rest from work.

Rest breaks

The company to which you are assigned, or employed by, should allow you a break from work of 20 minutes if your assignment or job entails more than 6 hours a day. If it is practicable, you may take your break away from your workstation. Make arrangements with the client about rest/lunch breaks. If you are under 18 you are entitled to a rest break of 30 minutes if your assignment or job involves more than 6 hours a day.

Night work

Should not work more than 8 hours in every 24, averaged over 17 weeks (or however many weeks you have worked if it is less than 17 weeks). In some cases where the work is hazardous or strenuous, 8 hours night work in 24 is the absolute maximum you should work.

Weekly rest

You are entitled to a minimum of 1 days rest from work each week or 2 days every 2 weeks. If you are under 18 you are entitled to 2 days rest from work each week.

A word about equal opportunities

Discrimination on the basis of race, marital status, colour, sex, religion, national origin, age or disability is unlawful. Although very rare, it is possible that you may be faced with a question which is discriminatory particularly from inexperienced interviewers. In these situations the best thing to do is to address the bias behind the question without confronting the interviewer, for example:

Are you planning to start a family?

Are you asking if I am able to work overtime? Are you asking if I would have commitment to this position?

How old are you?

Are you asking how many years of experience I have?

Health and safety

If you feel the company you are working for contravenes Health and Safety regulations, please inform nearest health and safety office.


	Are you married?
	Are you asking if I am able to work overtime?
	Paid annual leave
	You are entitled to 4 weeks paid annual leave pursuant to the Working Time Regulations 1998. The leave is paid on a pro-rata basis which means that you are entitled to approximately 1.67 days paid holiday for every full month worked.
During your employment, you will be paid for the holidays that you have taken, but not in lieu of this holiday. Any holidays that you have not taken by the end of the holidayy ear are usually not permitted to be carried forward. The employer may ask you to take all or any of your leave entitlement at a specified time.