Essential points
- The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides employees with a number of key entitlements in relation to minimum rest periods and maximum working hours.
- The Act is largely a health and safety measure (to control the number of hours worked) – it does not mandate payment for time worked.
- Working time is any time the employee spends at their place of work carrying out the duties of the employment. It includes time spent on-call at the employer’s premises but (in general) does not include time on-call at home. Time spent on breaks (paid or unpaid) is not working time.
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Please note
​While every care has been taken in compiling this content, the CIPD cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice.
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