Rules about hours of work
In most jobs, your employer can say you have to work 8 hours a day.
Your employer’s regular work day may be more than 8 hours. If it is, your employer can say you must work the number of hours in their regular work day.
But, in most jobs, the regular work day cannot be more than 13 hours. And the regular work week cannot be more than 48 hours.
The rules about hours of work may not apply to you if you agreed in writing to different rules. If you belong to a union, the union can make an agreement with your employer about hours of work.
Working longer hours
Your employer might ask you to work longer hours. You have the right to refuse, unless you have already agreed in writing to work longer hours.
Your employer must give you a copy of the Ministry of Labour’s information sheet about hours of work and overtime pay. And they must do this before asking you to sign an agreement to work longer hours.
If you agree to work longer hours, you have the right to cancel the agreement.
You do this by telling your employer in writing that you no longer agree to work longer hours. Your agreement ends 2 weeks after you give this written notice to your employer.
Working on weekends
Your employer does not have to give you weekends off.
You must get one day off in each 7-day work week, or 2 days off in a row every 2 weeks.
This means that your employer can make you work:
- 6 days in a row before giving you one day off, or
- 12 days in a row before giving you 2 days off.
Previous page Next page