The traditional business work week runs from Monday to Friday in the UK. These days are termed working days when most business and professional activities are conducted between 9 am and 5 pm. The concept of a working day is crucial for both businesses and employees.
It mandates schedules and deadlines. Also, it is a reference point for statutory rights around work and pay. In this article, we answer all the questions about considering Saturday as a work day and explain working weekend laws in the UK.
What is a Working Day in the UK?
In the UK, a working day is any day of the week when standard business operations are conducted. Usually, this runs from Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and public holidays. The standard working hours are generally from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Saturday is typically a non-working and resting day in many sectors and companies. But now many mark Saturday as a working day, depending on the type of business. They consider Saturday to be a partial working day with altered hours of operation. Here are a few examples to help you understand it better.
- Banks: Usually, most banks are closed on Saturdays. However, only some staff members work and offer limited services on weekends.
- Retail: Many businesses operate on Saturdays and extend their hours to satisfy customers who shop on weekends.
Traditionally, Sunday is seen as a non-working day across the UK. However, some industries require operation on Sundays. They offer premium pay to their employees, as UK employment law dictates. Sunday working laws ensure that employees receive ample protection and payment for those who work on Sundays. Working hours can differ significantly on Sundays from the traditional workweek. The working hours are often shorter or require shift-based scheduling. Employees working on Sundays should always refer to their contract and the Working Time Regulations 1998 for their rights and employer obligations.
Is Saturday Classed as a Working Day in the UK?
Classification of Saturday as a working day in the UK varies and clearly depends on the industry or business type. The standard working days for traditional business sectors and financial institutions are from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, also known as bank holidays. Let's understand with examples:
For Banks: Traditionally, Saturdays are not considered a working day. So, normal processes like transactions and payments are not processed.
For Businesses: The traditional business hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. However, some businesses extend their working hours and offer full or reduced schedules on Saturdays. This means some businesses may consider Saturdays as a working day.
However, working hours vary for Saturday workers. Understanding the difference between standard working days for operational purposes and employee rights is essential. Also, legislation can protect the employee's rights so they can take a day off each week, including Saturdays, depending on the employer's work schedule.
What Types of Businesses Operate on Saturdays?
Usually, Saturday is considered a weekend in the traditional Monday-to-Friday workweek in the UK. However, many businesses operate on Saturdays to accommodate customer's demands on weekends. Read more to learn which types of businesses operate on Saturdays.
Retail Stores
Retail stores and shopping centres open their doors widely and operate on Saturdays. They offer extended hours to accommodate shoppers on weekends. And sometimes even offers on Sundays for reduced hours. Many shopping locations open earlier than 9 am or sometimes as early as 6 am. These times are the best for people who require goods before or on the way to work. Working hours are mostly set to consider staffing requirements.
Restaurants and Cafés
Saturday is a business day for many in these industries, and they thrive on weekends. So they even offer services on Sunday to accommodate the larger availability of people at the weekend. Some even offer special weekend menus or brunch services to attract a leisurely dining crowd. This will make Saturday a staple for the food services.
Entertainment Venues
People have large amounts of free time in their schedules on Saturdays. This will allow them to spend time with their loved ones and family as they work on the traditional business days, i.e. from Monday to Friday. So cinemas, museums, and theme parks are open to provide activities for families and people looking to enjoy their time off.
Healthcare Services
Healthcare services are essential and offer 24/7 services. Doctors usually work 42 to 48 hours a week and also work night shifts, bank holidays and weekends. Also, pharmacies and urgent care clinics operate on Saturdays. However, hospital administration and doctor's offices are closed on Saturdays.
Real Estate Agencies
People have plenty of free time on Saturdays, so many do housing viewings on Saturdays. Real estate agencies will take advantage of the availability of these home buyers and operate on Saturdays.
Transport Services
Public transport systems run seamlessly throughout the business days, Monday to Friday. Although schedules may vary, they usually also run on Saturdays to support the mobility of those working or engaging in leisure activities.
Fitness Centers
People have plenty of free time on Saturdays, so gyms and leisure centres stay open. They can use clients' free time to exercise over the weekend.
As for Sunday, traditionally, this day is for rest, and specific laws apply to Sunday work. In the UK, employees who work on Sundays may be entitled to premium pay depending on their contract. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 restricts opening hours for larger shops, but small shops can open all day. Sunday working laws also allow workers to take off with notice if they prefer not to work on this day. So, the typical Sunday working hours are shorter to respect the cultural norm of rest and family time.
Is Sunday a Working Day in the UK?
The traditional workweek runs from Monday to Friday in the UK. However, working patterns have evolved today, and Sunday has become a working day in specific sectors. When an employee is expected to work on a Sunday, it depends on their role and employment contract.
- Employment Contracts: It is necessary for employees to always refer to their employment contracts to determine their responsibilities for Sunday work.
- Opt-out Clause: Shop and betting shop workers who started employment before 26 August 1994 can use this option. So they opt out of working Sunday unless they are contractually agreed upon.
What Types of Businesses Operate on Sundays?
Sundays are considered a rest day in the UK. However, various types of businesses still operate on Sundays.
- Retailers are the best example to understand this. Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, large shops over 280 square metres can open for up to 6 hours between 10 am and 6 pm. Smaller retailers can open all day.
- Restaurants, cafes, and bars provide food and services within regular hours on Sundays.
- Hospitals and public transportation are essential services and are open 24/7.
- Tourist spots such as museums, galleries, and entertainment venues remain open on Sundays.
- Customer care centres and online companies operate on Sundays to provide services 24/7.
- Corner stores or shops are open on Sundays to meet local needs.
Consumers' habits have changed, and they expect services to be available at their convenience. So many businesses operate during the regular working week, Monday-to-Friday, and on Sundays with reduced staff or altered hours. This will bring about change and lead to a more flexible economy.
What is the Working Weekends' Law in the UK?
In the UK, there are laws for weekend labour, which help in structuring employment arrangements when working Saturdays and Sundays. These laws ensure employees and employers have clarity regarding their rights and responsibilities. Here are five key provisions that workers and businesses should understand:
1-Contractual Agreement
Employees are responsible for working on weekends unless they have agreed to such terms in their employment contract. Employees must review their contracts to understand their working day commitments.
2-Maximum Weekly Working Hours
According to the Working Time Regulations 1998, employees should not work more than an average of 48 hours per week unless they opt-out. It also includes any weekend work.
3-Right to Rest
Every employee in the UK has the right to rest; this could be:
- Daily Rest: Employees can take 11 hours of uninterrupted rest between working days.
- Weekly Rest: Employees should receive a minimum rest period of either uninterrupted 24 hours each week or 48 hours every two weeks.
4-Young Workers
For employees under the age of 18 years, there are more strict provisions in the UK. They have a limit on maximum hours per week and additional rest requirements.
5-Night Work Limitations
For those employees who do night shifts in the UK, there is a limit to the working hours. Working hours should average 8 hours in 24 hours.
Is it Legal to Work 7 Days a Week in the UK?
UK employment law does not clearly ban working on Saturdays and Sundays. For many sectors, these days can be considered normal working days. The Working Time Regulations (WTR) 1998 describe the legality of working 7 days a week and impose certain restrictions to protect workers' health and safety.
Maximum Weekly Working Hours
The employment law states that employees cannot be required to work more than 48 hours per week, typically over 17 weeks. Workers may opt out of this limit voluntarily, but they cannot be forced to give up this right.
Weekly Rest
Employees are allowed certain rest periods on seven consecutive days of work that indirectly limit this possibility:
- At least 24 consecutive hours of rest in each of the seven days.
- 48 hours of consecutive rest in 14 days.
Should Your Business Be Open on Saturday?
Before considering whether a business should operate on Saturdays in the UK, you must know the law for working weekends. Traditionally, the standard business days in the UK start from Monday to Friday, with the typical business hours being 9 am to 5 pm. These days are aligned with when banks operate and process payments. Some businesses extend their working hours to include Saturday, traditionally part of the weekend. However, businesses must consider customer demand and the legal rights of employees.
Benefits Of Using Saturday As A Business Day
There are many benefits to using Saturdays as business days.
- Wider Demographic: Many people typically have off on Saturday, which means now they have access to a wide group of people within that time. Most people will be at work or in school through the typical work week during the standard business hours, i.e. 9 am to 5 am.
- Versatility: If you use Saturday as a business day, you can take advantage of opportunities that your competitors are not.
- Reduce Bottleneck: Sometimes, having Saturday as your business day means you can meet demand and reduce bottlenecks or jams. It is essential for industries such as healthcare, where lack of access could cause a drop in society's health.
- Increased Profit: Adding Saturday to your business days surely increases profit. Now, you are working up to six days, which means you have six profitable days.
- Extra delivery day: If you run a delivery company, you may work Saturday and Sunday. So you are using all seven days of the week as working days. It is convenient for businesses that operate on one-business-day shipping.
How to Ask Your Team to Work on Weekends?
Here are the 5 Tips that help you ask your team to work on weekends.
1-Understand Legal Boundaries
Employers must understand UK labour laws before making any requests. The Working Time Regulations 1998 states that working 7 days a week is legal, with a minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours daily. Also, an employee has a right to have an uninterrupted 24-hour without any work each week or 48 hours every two weeks.
2-Communicate the Reason Clearly
Good communication between employers and employees is essential for weekend work and helps build trust. Whether it's a critical project deadline or an unexpected business need, if you explain the circumstances, the employees will understand the importance of their contribution.
3-Offer Compensation or Time Off
Offer time off in lieu or additional pay for weekend work to respect the Working Time Regulations and appreciate employees' commitments. This can reduce the impact of working on days traditionally reserved for rest.
- Time Off: Compensate with equivalent time off during the week.
- Additional Pay: Provide extra pay to recognize the sacrifice of personal time.
4-Request, Don't Demand
Use polite and respectful language when you request for the weekend work. Take a considerate approach, respect individual circumstances and understand that employees may have commitments outside of work.
5-Show Appreciation
Always appreciate your team and thank them for going above and beyond. This will boost their morale and encourage a positive response even during busy periods.