Working Time Regulations policy template
Our Working Time Regulations Policy ensures compliance with legal requirements, safeguarding employee rights regarding working hours, breaks, and holidays.
- 2 pages / 601 words.
- Last updated 03/02/2025.
- Designed for United Kingdom use.
- Suitable for use in other territories; check local laws first.
- Instantly download as Word / PDF / plain text, or send by email.
- Includes 12 months’ access, with all updates to this page provided free of charge and notified to you.
Working Time Regulations policy
1 Overview
1.1 This policy outlines [Company Name]’s approach to ensuring compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998, which govern working hours, rest breaks, and annual leave entitlements. The purpose of this policy is to protect employee health, safety, and well-being while maintaining operational efficiency.
2 Scope
2.1 This policy applies to all employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and shift workers. It does not apply to self-employed individuals or those in roles explicitly exempt from the Working Time Regulations. Special provisions apply to night workers and young workers (under 18).
3 General Principles
3.1 Maximum Weekly Working Hours
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Employees must not work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over a 17-week reference period, unless they have voluntarily opted out in writing.
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Employees can withdraw their opt-out agreement with reasonable notice.
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Managers are responsible for monitoring working hours and ensuring compliance.
3.2 Rest Breaks
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Employees working more than 6 hours per day are entitled to a minimum 20-minute break, which should not be taken at the beginning or end of their shift.
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A Working Time Regulations Policy outlines an organisation’s approach to ensuring compliance with the UK Working Time Regulations 1998.
These regulations set legal limits on working hours, rest breaks, and holiday entitlements to protect employee health and well-being.
Send to appropriate internal recipients such as employees, workers, contractors etc. and request confirmation that is has been read and understood.
Issue during onboarding / after changes / planned refresher.
Compliance
Compliance
This Working Time Regulations policy template incorporates relevant UK laws and HR standards, including those listed below:
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Working Time Regulations 1998: This is the primary legislation that governs working time in the UK. It sets out rules related to maximum weekly working hours, rest breaks, annual leave entitlement, and night work.
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Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This Act imposes a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including the management of working hours to prevent fatigue and work-related health issues.
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Employment Rights Act 1996: Part II of this Act contains provisions related to working time, including rest breaks, rest periods, and limits on working hours.
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European Working Time Directive: Although not a UK law, the European Working Time Directive forms the basis for the Working Time Regulations in the UK. The regulations aim to protect the health and safety of workers by setting limits on working hours and ensuring adequate rest periods.
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National Minimum Wage Act 1998 (NMWA): The NMWA can be related to the Working Time Regulations, as it sets the minimum wage rates that employers must pay for each hour worked. The regulations ensure that employees are not underpaid for their working hours.
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Equality Act 2010: This Act ensures that working time arrangements do not discriminate against employees based on protected characteristics, such as gender, age, race, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
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Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000: These regulations protect part-time workers' rights, including their working time arrangements, to ensure they are not treated less favorably than full-time workers.
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Agency Workers Regulations 2010: These regulations apply to agency workers and provide them with similar working time rights as direct employees after a qualifying period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I use this template in my small business?
Yes. The Working Time Regulations policy template is designed to be flexible and suitable for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses and charities. It follows UK employment law best practice, so even if you don't have an in-house HR team, you can confidently apply it.
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Is this template compliant with 2025 UK employment law?
Absolutely. All of our templates are drafted with the latest ACAS guidance and UK employment legislation in mind. We review and update them regularly, so you can be confident they remain compliant.
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Can I customise it for my organisation?
Yes, we highlight the areas that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.
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Do I get instant access?
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable Word or Excel format so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
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What if I need more help, not just this template?
If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include this template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
