Hours of work (TSB)

The standard full time contract is for a working week of 35 hours. The way that you work your hours is your working pattern and may vary depending upon the area of the business you work and their operating hours, the job role you have, personal or other business requirements. Variations to your working pattern are agreed through the agile working process (sometimes referred to as flexible working).

Working time regulations

Your employer complies with the working time regulations which ensures you receive enough rest between periods of work, have breaks during your working day, and limits the number of hours you work over a defined period of time. Here's some further detail:

• You cannot exceed an average of 48 hours of work for each seven-day period over a 17 week referencing period. This includes overtime and other time spent travelling on business (not including any travel to your normal place of work) or when called out (if you're required to be on 'standby'). To work more than these hours, you need to specifically opt out of these restrictions. TSB do not recommend colleagues to opt out and encourages you to consider the impact of long hours on your wellbeing.
• An uninterrupted, and unpaid break of at least 20 minutes must be taken if you work more than 6 hours consecutively. This is usually your lunch break and TSB recommends a minimum of 30 minutes.
• You must also have a period of rest of at least 11 hours between periods of work.
• You must have a full day off (an uninterrupted period of 24 hours) each week.

Young workers

There are specific rules in place for young workers. Young workers are defined as anyone over school leaving age but not yet 18:

• You should work no more than 8 hours in a day (or 40 hours each week). This can't be averaged out.
• An uninterrupted break of at least 20 minutes must be taken if you work more than 4.5 hours consecutively.
• There must be a rest period of at least 12 hours between periods of work
• For young workers, you must have a full 48 hour period away from work each week.
• You are prohibited from working between the hours of 10pm and 7am except in certain circumstances.

Overtime

Overtime is payment for hours worked above your contracted working hours. You have the option to be paid for this overtime, or to take it as time off in lieu. Any overtime you work is taken into consideration for the purposes of ensuring your comply with the working time regulations and do not exceed 48 hours of work a week (averaged). Not every grade or role is eligible for overtime.

Changing working hours

You can request a change to your working hours and the way that you work through the bank's flexible working process. Among other options, this could include adjusting the days or hours you work, becoming a job share partner, compressing your hours, or ensuring you can meet the needs of caring responsibilities you have.

For business led changes, take a look at our guidance on changes to working hours in TSB.