Your Rights to Your Working Week

When it comes to your employment, many people feeland or any other short breaks taken throughout the
they are being treated unfairly, or aren't sure whatday. At the end of your working day, when you go
they are doing qualifies under the current employmenthome, this is known as a daily rest; finishing one day
law. Maybe your working more hours than you should,before starting another. Weekly rest refers to the
or you haven't been allowed a lunch break for a fewwhole days you have off during your working week,
days. Whatever it is, if you feel you are being treatedalso known as the weekend.
unfairly, speak to your employer. If he/she doesn'tMost of these types of rest are unpaid, apart from the
want to help and isn't cooperating, then think aboutrest breaks (lunch breaks); many of these are paid, but
getting in touch with an Employment Tribunal andrefer back to your contract, as it is not a legal
speak about maybe making a claim.requirement to pay for rest breaks. Adult workers are
Working week hoursentitled to a 20 minute break for every 6 hours of
Adult workers cannot be forced to work more thanwork. The break must be taken in one block, and can't
48 hours a week. This is averaged out over 17 weeks.be taken off the end of a working day, must be taken
If one week you worked 60 hours, as long as youaround the middle. You also have the right to at least
worked less the following week, you are still in keepingan 11 hour daily rest between your working days, and
with the legal amount of time. However you are not24 hours of no work whatsoever every week.
covered by the working time limit if you have one ofWorking overtime
the following; a job where you can choose freely howCurrently there is no legal right to pay for extra
long you want to work, in the armed forces,working hours, unless stated by your employer. Again
emergency services, the police, a domestic servant, orthis will be recorded in your contract, as it should
a sea transport worker. If you want to work moreinclude details of overtime pay rates. Many employers
than the 48 hour legal time limit, your decision must bewill offer you time off instead of paying for your
voluntary and to have it in writing, with a proof ofovertime, this should be agreed between you and your
signature. Under 18's can work no more than 40 hoursemployer. You only have to work overtime if your
a week; they can't opt out of the 48 hour legal timecontract states so. You cannot be forced to work
limit.more than the 48 hour legal time limit a week. If you
Breaksare being pushed to work more than this, talk with your
There are 3 varieties of breaks you get during youremployer, if unresolved, think about getting in touch with
working week. A break that occurs every day ofan Employment Tribunal.
work, is called a rest break, or known as a lunch break,