Working hours and conditions
There are a number of rights that make sure you are safe at work and have a healthy work-life balance.
It's important to remember that some of these rights only apply to people with a certain employment status (like an employee, or a worker).
If you are not sure what this means, make sure you read the general information on employment rights before you go any further.
Taking enough breaks at work
Rest breaks
The person you work for must let you have a break when you are at work.
They must also let you have enough rest between the days you work and between the weeks you work.
These are called rest breaks at work, daily rest and weekly rest.
Rights relating to rest breaks are for employees and workers only.
The rules may be different depending on how old you are or what job you do.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
If you think don't think you're getting enough rest at work or between shifts, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with rest breaks. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
Staying safe and healthy at work
Health and Safety
The person you work for should not make you do anything that might be bad for your health.
They must also talk with you and other people you work with to make sure that the place where you work is safe.
This is called health and safety at work.
Rights relating to health and safety are for employees and workers.
You might also be protected if you are self-employed depending on the work you are doing and where you are working.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has more detailed information on their website.
If you are concerned about health and safety at work, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you have been unable to deal with a problem with health and safety yourself, you can report the person you work for.
Who you have to tell depends on what type of job you do or where you work.
You can find out who you should report a problem to on the Health and Safety Executive website.
There is some good advice on the Citizens Advice website about what to do if you have an accident at work.
Working at home or changing your hours
Right to request flexible working
You can ask the person you work for to make changes to the way you work, like letting you work from home or changing the hours you work.
This is called the right to request flexible working.
They have to give a good reason for not making changes.
The right to request flexible working is for employees only.
Citizens Advice has more detailed information on their website about flexible working and how to ask for it.
If you are having a problem with the right to request flexible working, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with requesting flexible working. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
How many hours you can be made to work
Working Time Directive
The person you work for may not be able to make you work more than a certain number of hours in a week.
This is called the working time directive or working time regulations.
Working time regulations are for employees and workers.
For some jobs you may have to work more hours.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
If you are worried you are being asked to work too many hours, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with working hours. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
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