Is it illegal to work 12 hours a day in the UK?

Question

Is it illegal to work 12 hours a day in the UK?

Answer 1

nope.

my dad got nicked for working 7.5 hours overtime over the legal limit though.

Answer 2

check the info on working time directive - 1st link

For all the people who don't actually know the rules re rest breaks (natalie w you have not read the answers in your own link) -

"If you're an adult worker (that is, over 18), you'll normally have the right to a 20 minute rest break if you're expected to work for more than six hours at a stretch.

A lunch or coffee break can count as your rest break. Additional breaks might be given by your contract of employment. There's no statutory right to 'smoking breaks'."

see 2nd link - wow yes you are NOT entitled to an hours lunch/break after 4 hours!!!! but it is what a lot of people get and 30 mins is seen as the minimum lunch break but in fact is NOT the minimum by law

Answer 3

Doesnt seem like it!  Lazy people dont like to work that hard though.

Answer 4

It is if your a lorry driver driving for that amount.

Answer 5

No but only sepcialised jobs generally have 12 hour shifts

Answer 6

No as long as you get 15 mins break for every 4 hours.

Most contracts say whether or not you can work over 48 hours a week though.  

You can find out more

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...

Answer 7

No, I work 14 hours a day in care work, and I get a 30 minute break (which of course is unpaid).

Answer 8

It is if you don't get a break for lunch during that number of hours. Check your contract.

Answer 9

no it is not

if you are going to work more than a certain amount of hours you have to sign a document which states you know you are working extra hours and therefore cannot take the employer to a tribunal etc

Answer 10

no

Answer 11

NOT THAT I KNOW OFF

Answer 12

I don't think its illegal anywhere, what IS illegal, I know, is an employer FORCING YOU to work 12 hour days.  Legally, they can make you work 8, but they can't make you work 12.  Of course in places like Japan and throughout the U.S., they take advantage of the tight job markets to force people to work longer than what employers are allowed to make people work.

You are free to do it, on a volunteer basis, and at the discretion of the employer, paid or unpaid per the legal agreement, however I know they can't make you do it.  Once your 8 hours are over, I know you hold the legal right to demand to go home, and if they violate it, you can sue them or report them.

The UK, anywhere in the western world actually, I don't think its illegal.

Hope that helps.

Answer 13

12 hour shifts are common - Firefighters often do 14-hour nightshifts.

It becomes an issue if you are doing it too much.  The European Working Time Directive states that you cannot work more than 48 hours per week (averaged out over 17 weeks), so you could not do 5 x 12-hour shifts every week, for example, although some industries are exempt.

Some driving jobs prohibit you from working such long hours, unless that includes rest break times.

Answer 14

No it isn't.

Answer 15

No, its perfectly legal and normal

Answer 16

no but if u do u must have a 12 hour break before ur next shift

Answer 17

My hubby works 6 12hr shifts in security every week.

Answer 18

No, you can do it.

Answer 19

without a break it is. you should have a break every 4 hours.

Answer 20

no! many people do 12hour shifts! yu couldnt do it everyday though, that would be illegal.

Answer 21

No its not. But you have to have a break of (I think)12 hours in between shifts. This is for railway workers, I dunno about other types of work.