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The Global Insight

What is the maximum number of hours an employer can ask you to work?

Author

James Williams

Updated on March 22, 2026

Hours of work There are certain minimum conditions that must generally be observed by all employers. For most workers in NSW, maximum full-time hours are eight per day, and 38 per week.

How many hours officers have to work maximum as per law?

As per the Factories Act 1948, every adult (a person who has completed 18 years of age) cannot work for more than 48 hours in a week and not more than 9 hours in a day. According to Section 51 of the Act, the spread over should not exceed 10-1/2 hours.

How many hours can you legally work in the UK?

48 hours
Overview. You can’t work more than 48 hours a week on average – normally averaged over 17 weeks. This law is sometimes called the ‘working time directive’ or ‘working time regulations’. You can choose to work more by opting out of the 48-hour week.

Is a 45 hour work week legal?

Official employer designations regarding full-time employment generally range from 35 to 45 hours, with 40 hours being by far the most common standard. Some companies consider 50 hours a week full-time for exempt employees.

Is it okay to work 3 days a week?

A new research report has found a three-day working week translates to healthier and more productive employees, particularly in the over-40s demographic. For working hours up to around 25 hours a week, an increase in working hours has a positive impact on cognitive functioning.

Is there a maximum number of hours an employee can work?

Maximum hours of work As an employee, you are not allowed to work more than 12 hours a day. However, your employer can ask you to work more than 12 hours a day in the following circumstances: An accident or threat of accident.

Can you work more than 48 hours in a week?

If an employee needs to work more hours than the average An employer can ask an employee to work more than 48 hours in a week. This is as long as they reduce the employee’s hours in future, to even out their average weekly hours.

How many hours can an exempt employee work?

Employers and employees must note that job titles don’t determine exempt status. Someone given a job title that is usually exempt without the corresponding high-level responsibilities may, in fact, not be exempt. Employers generally do not pay overtime to salaried professionals who might work over 40 hours in a workweek.

Is there a limit to how many hours you can work per week for overtime?

For adult employees, there is no legal limit to the number of hours that one can work per week, but the Fair Labor Standards Act dictates standards for overtime pay in both the private and public sector.