Working Hours and Overtime in Jersey

In Jersey, your company must comply with working hour and overtime laws – including daily limits, overtime thresholds, and rest requirements – to stay compliant and build a strong employee experience.

Employers should implement clear written policies that define standard working hours, overtime arrangements, and rest entitlements, and ensure that managers apply these rules consistently in scheduling and approving work. Looking ahead to 2026, regulators and stakeholders are expected to continue focusing on fair working time practices, accurate timekeeping, and the prevention of excessive hours, so robust internal controls, transparent communication with staff, and regular policy reviews will be essential to demonstrate compliance.

• Standard Working Hours
• Overtime Thresholds
• Overtime Pay Rates
• Daily And Weekly Rest Requirements
• Night Work Restrictions
• Penalties For Non-Compliance

What Are The Standard Working Hours In Jersey?

An employee whose age is 16 or younger has a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 40 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 6 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 9:00 to 17:30.

Maximum Working Hours In Jersey

Jersey does not prescribe a single universal statutory cap on weekly working hours for all adult employees, but employers are expected to organise work so that average hours remain reasonable, health and safety are protected, and contractual limits are respected. In practice, many contracts set a standard of around 40 hours per week, usually spread over five days, with any additional hours treated as overtime by agreement. Employers should avoid scheduling excessively long daily shifts, ensure that employees receive adequate rest, and document any arrangements that allow for variable or averaged hours.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Hospitality And Tourism Operations
• Financial Services And Banking
• Health And Social Care Services
• Retail And Shift-Based Trading
• Transport, Ports, And Logistics

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers and certain professional or highly autonomous employees in Jersey often work under broader contractual obligations rather than strict hourly limits. Their contracts may specify that the role is salaried and requires such hours as are reasonably necessary to fulfil duties, without separate overtime entitlement. Even where employees are treated as exempt from overtime, employers must still safeguard health and safety, avoid excessive working patterns, and ensure that rest breaks and days off are realistically available. Clear written terms, transparent expectations, and periodic workload reviews are essential to prevent overwork and potential disputes.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Jersey

There is no single statutory definition of full-time hours in Jersey, but full-time employment is commonly understood in the market as around 35–40 hours per week, depending on the sector and role. Employment contracts should clearly state the normal weekly hours, the pattern of work across days, and how any additional hours will be treated. Employers should also specify whether hours can be varied seasonally or by rota, and how any averaging arrangements interact with rest periods and overtime provisions.

Overtime Regulations In Jersey

What Counts As Overtime In Jersey?

Overtime in Jersey is generally defined by the employment contract rather than by a single statutory threshold. In most cases, overtime means any hours worked in excess of the employee’s normal contractual hours, whether calculated on a daily or weekly basis. Employers should set out in writing what constitutes normal hours, how overtime is requested or authorised, and whether overtime is compulsory or voluntary. It is good practice to require prior managerial approval for overtime and to maintain accurate records of all additional hours worked.

Maximum Overtime In Jersey

Jersey law does not impose a fixed maximum number of overtime hours for adult workers, but employers remain responsible for ensuring that total working time, including overtime, does not compromise employee health, safety, or wellbeing. When planning overtime, employers should consider the cumulative weekly hours, the intensity of the work, and the availability of daily and weekly rest. Policies should discourage excessive or routine reliance on overtime and should provide for rotation of additional hours where possible to avoid fatigue and burnout.

Overtime Payout Rates In Jersey

There is no statutory overtime premium rate in Jersey, so the rate of pay for overtime is determined by contract or collective agreement. Many employers choose to pay a higher rate for overtime – for example, time and a half for weekday overtime or double time for Sundays and public holidays – to reflect the additional burden on employees. Whatever structure is adopted, employers must ensure that the overall pay for hours worked does not fall below the applicable minimum wage and that the calculation method is clearly explained in offer letters, contracts, and staff handbooks. Employers should also specify whether overtime is paid, compensated with time off in lieu, or a combination of both, and how such arrangements are approved and recorded.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Jersey

In Jersey, employees commonly work around 8 hours per day and approximately 40 hours per week under standard full-time arrangements, and rest periods and breaks are intended to ensure that these hours are worked safely and sustainably. Employers should structure working patterns so that employees receive appropriate meal breaks during the working day, as well as sufficient daily and weekly rest between shifts, taking particular care with younger workers and those in safety-sensitive roles.

• Meal Break Requirements
• Daily Rest
• Weekly Rest
• Minors
• Employer Duties