Working time · UK business guide
Working Time, Leave and Pay
Apply working-time limits, rest breaks, holiday entitlement and pay rules to the employee's contract and actual working pattern.
Your three-step checklist
- 01
Map the working pattern
Record normal hours, night work, overtime, on-call time and work for other employers.
- 02
Check limits and exceptions
Test weekly limits, rest periods, young-worker rules and any valid opt-out or sector exception.
- 03
Reconcile leave and pay
Match contracts and payroll to statutory holiday, bank holiday and notice entitlements.
Selected reading
Understand the issue before deciding what to do next.
Start with these articles for the key rules and common decisions. Check the official sources for the current rule, then match any legal work to your situation.
Primary sources
Source links checked 1 August 2026. Confirm the current rule before acting.
Need help putting this into practice?
Put the right documents and advice behind your decision.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. The right path depends on the entity, documents and commercial facts.