Working time Regulations, rest breaks and holidays

‘Working time' means any period during which the individual is working, is at the employer's disposal and is carrying out their activities or duties.

The basic rights

The WTR currently provide employees with the following basic rights and protections:

• A limit of an average of 48 hours a week over a 17-week period which a worker can be required to work.

• A limit of an average of 8 hours work in 24 hours which night workers can work.

• A right to 11 hours rest a day.

• A right to a day off each week.

• A right to an in-work rest break if the working day is longer than 6 hours.

• A right to 28 days paid leave for full-time workers per year.

Opting out

Some UK employers ask their staff to agree to work more than 48 hours a week (sometimes called ‘opting-out’). Employers can't force employees to sign an opt-out: workers must agree to it and they must not be dismissed for refusing to sign one.

Flexible Working

‘Flexible working’ describes a type of working arrangement which gives a degree of flexibility on how long, where, when and at what times employees work.

Flexible working practices include:

• Part-time working: work is generally considered part-time when employers are contracted to work anything less than full-time hours.

• Job-sharing: a form of part-time working where two (or occasionally more) people share the responsibility for a job between them.

• Flexitime: allows employees to choose, within certain set limits, when to begin and end work.

• Zero-hours contracts: an individual has no guarantee of a minimum number of working hours, so they can be called upon as and when required and paid just for the hours they work.

The list above isn't exhaustive. Flexible working can include other practices for example employee self-rostering, shift-swapping or taking time off for training.

Flexible working arrangements are formal. Team XL chooses to amend the written employment contract when new working arrangements are put in place, and/or include flexible working policies in the employer’s handbook.

Employees need to put their request for flexible working in writing and the senior management team will review the appplication and ensure that as a company we are able to accept the request.

These decisions are based on:

1. Our current operational demands.

2. Our current workforce.

3. If the request is viable and achievable.

Breaks

Employees are entitled to 20-minute breaks after 6 hours of continual working.