The Working Time Regulations 1998 (and related or similar regulations affecting certain specific industries) provide a variety of 'health and safety' measures to protect workers from overwork. These include a maximum 48 hour working week, the entitlement to paid annual holidays and the right to daily and weekly rest breaks. There are also special rules to protect young workers and night workers.

We can advise you upon your workers’ entitlements under the Regulations. We can advise upon and prepare Collective and Workforce Agreements which take advantage of the flexibility allowed in the Regulations to take into account the nature of your own business. We can also advise upon and prepare individual 'opt out' agreements to allow workers to agree that the 48 hour limit will not apply to their employment.

We will also keep you up to date with all developments on the Working Time Regulations, including the latest cases and the developments from Europe (for example the European Commission’s consultation into the 48 hour opt-out which is now in its second stage).