N
The Global Insight

Can a company make you work 48 hours?

Author

John Hall

Updated on March 29, 2026

Legally, your employer can’t make you work more than 48 hours a week, including overtime. If they want you to work more than that, your employer has to ask you to opt out of the 48-hour limit.

Is working 48 hours a week too much?

Work hours per week: Working too much is bad “Currently it’s accepted that the standard working week is around 40 hours depending on the country. We also know from a large body of research that working over 48 hours is generally bad for an average employee,” Kamerade-Hanta says.

What is the 48 hour working week agreement?

By law an employee cannot work more than an average 48 hours a week, unless either of the following apply: they agree to work more hours (known as ‘opting out’ of the weekly limit) they do a job not covered by the law on working hours (sometimes known as the ‘working time regulations’)

What’s the longest shift you can legally work?

Presently, no OSHA standard to regulate extended and unusual shifts in the workplace exists. A work period of eight consecutive hours over five days with at least eight hours of rest in between shifts defines a standard shift. Any shift that goes beyond this standard is considered to be extended or unusual.

Is it legal to work more than 48 hours a week?

Most workers should not have to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, according to the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations also give you rights to paid holiday, rest breaks and limits on night work. Holiday entitlements; Rest breaks; Working at night; Your average working hours are calculated over a 17-week period.

Is it good to have happy hours at work?

This doesn’t preclude teams from going out together, though, so continue to encourage social groups as your company grows. In all, happy hours are a great way for your employees to break away from their desks and bond with each other. And that, really, is the key to successful employee engagement.

Can you opt out of the 48 hour working week?

If you work in certain sectors, you can’t opt out of the 48-hour limit to your working week. Your working week is not covered by the Working Time Regulations if you work in the following areas: There are also special rules for mobile workers in the transport industry (either road, rail, or sea).

What’s the average number of hours a week you can work?

Most workers should not have to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, according to the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations also give you rights to paid holiday, rest breaks and limits on night work. Your average working hours are calculated over a 17-week period.