The working time regulations as set by the European Union is a set of guidelines regarding the amount of work hours, and was instated to ensure the safety and health of employees. Its main directives are a limitation to no more than 48 work hours per week, and a guaranteed period of 11 hours of rest per 24 hours. It also regulates the minimum amount of leave days that are paid, employees are entitled to on a yearly basis.

As with all EU legislation, member states are required to incorporate these directives in their own legislation on a national level. Generally speaking, the EU directives apply to all member states, but in the UK there is the option to decline the 48 work week, and work more, as opposed to France who did the exact opposite, limiting the work week to a mere 35 work hours.

The EU directives have been triad through several EU court rulings, through which its intentions were further clarified and the definition of work hours, was determined as the amount of time the employee in question is present at the work place, regardless of his or her activities.

In the UK, young workers under 18, are not allowed to opt out of the 48 hour work week, and are allowed to work no longer than 40 hours per week.