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04 December 2008 / Karl Deakin
Issue: 7348 / Categories: Features , Terms&conditions , Employment
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Toil & trouble

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Karl Deakin reflects on another difficult year for interpreting the Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833) (the Regulations) have provided much toil for the tribunals since their introduction in October 1998, and this year has been no exception.

The employment tribunal in Miles v Linkage Community Trust Limited (unreported at first instance) EAT/0618/07/DA, quoted by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), complained of the complexity of the Regulations stating “frankly we do not criticise any employer who [is] not able to interpret them and apply them accurately”. Anyone who has had to advise on the Regulations can probably sympathise.

Basic entitlements to rest
In addition to minimum annual leave, workers under the Regulations are entitled to:
 

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