This article discusses the standard working hours in the UK and the legal limits associated with them.
It also emphasizes the strict weekly limit of 48 hours, regardless of the 17-week average, and mentions jobs that have exemptions to the weekly maximum working hours limit.
What are the work hours in the UK?
In the UK, the standard working hours amount to 36.4 hours per week, calculated over a span of 17 weeks.
This allows individuals to exceed 36.4 hours during a single week, as long as their average over 17 weeks remains below this threshold.
Nevertheless, there is a strict weekly limit on working hours, set at 48 hours.
This implies that, regardless of your 17-week average, you are not permitted to work more than 48 hours within a single week.
Jobs that benefit from exemptions to the weekly maximum working hours limit
- 24-hour staffing
- Armed forces, emergency services, or police
- Security and surveillance
- Domestic servants in private households
- Seafarers, sea-fishermen, or workers on vessels on inland waterways
- Managing executives with control over their decisions
Work Hours In The UK: Options for individuals working more than 48 hours on average in a 17-week period
- Sign an opt-out agreement with your employer, which means that you agree to work more than 48 hours per week.
- Reduce your hours to meet the 48-hour limit.
If you are under 18, you cannot work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
Do legal limits have an impact on the relationship between employers and employees?
These legal limits on working hours are important to understand. However, many employers provide flexible working options, including part-time schedules, compressed workweeks, and flextime.
This allows you to discuss and potentially arrange alternate working hours with your employer, tailored to both your needs and the company’s requirements.
What are the normal work hours in the UK?
Typically, work hours span from 8:00 or 9:00 am to 4:00 to 5:00 pm, with a 1-hour lunch break, totaling 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
However, various organizations and industries may now embrace new working methods and flexible arrangements, leading to potential variations.
Do work hours differ across England, Scotland and Wales?
The standard working hours in the UK remain consistent in Scotland, England, and Wales, totaling 36.4 hours per week, calculated over a 17-week period.
This flexibility allows for more than 36.4 hours of work in a single week, provided that the 17-week average falls below 36.4 hours.
However, it’s crucial to note that the weekly maximum working hours limit is set at 48 hours, regardless of whether your 17-week average is below 48 hours.
Average salary vs Work hours in the UK
The UK’s median average salary for all workers has increased to £27,756 from £25,971 in 2021. Meanwhile, the mean average salary for all UK workers has risen to £33,402, up from £31,447 in 2021.
Additionally, the median average salary for full-time workers in the UK now stands at £33,000, a rise from £31,285 in 2021.
