Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations contain rules on the following matters:

• The maximum number of hours which can be worked each week
• Weekly and daily rest periods
• In-work rest breaks
• Night working
• Paid annual leave

The Working Time Regulations 1998 apply not only to people employed under Contracts of Employment, but also to any person who undertakes to perform personally any work or service for an employer. In short, the Regulations also apply to casual, seasonal and temporary workers (hired on an as and when basis) and agency temps as well as to freelancers, home workers and other output workers whatever the nature of the contractual relationship between them and those who engage their services. The regulations do not however apply to people who are genuinely self employed or to school children.

Some sub-contractors may be regarded as workers e g bricklayers who are recruited to provide their services personally in the building of homes.