The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 is a law that protects employees’ rights regarding their working hours, breaks, holidays, and rest periods. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Maximum Working Hours

• A worker cannot be required to work more than:
  • 48 hours per week, on average.
  • The average is usually calculated over a 4-month period (some sectors can calculate over 6 or 12 months).

2. Rest Periods

• Worker are entitled to breaks during the working day:
  • 15-minute break if they work more than 4.5 hours.
  • 30-minute break if they work more than 6 hours (this includes the 15-minute break).
• They also have the right to:
  • 11 consecutive hours of rest in a 24-hour period (daily rest).
  • 24 consecutive hours of rest in each 7-day period (weekly rest), which should be in addition to the 11-hour daily rest.

3. Night Work

• Night workers (people working between midnight and 7 a.m.) cannot work more than an average of 8 hours in a 24-hour period.

4. Annual Leave (Holidays)

• Full-time employees are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks of paid annual leave each year.
• Part-time employees also get holidays, calculated based on the hours they work. They earn 1/3 of a working week’s leave for every month they work at least 117 hours.
• Public holidays (like Christmas, Easter, and St. Patrick’s Day) must be given as a paid day off, an extra day’s pay, or another day off instead.

5. Public Holidays

• Employees are entitled to benefit from 9 public holidays per year. For these days, employers must provide one of the following:
  • A paid day off on the public holiday
  • An extra day of annual leave
  • An extra day’s pay
  • A paid day off within a month of the holiday.

6. Sunday Work

• If an employee works on a Sunday, they are entitled to extra compensation. This could be:
  • Extra pay,
  • Time off, or
  • An increased rate that compensates for the Sunday work.

7. Who the Act Covers

• The Act applies to all employees, including full-time, part-time, and temporary workers, with a few exceptions (such as Gardaí, Defence Forces, and certain trainees).

8. Exemptions and Flexibility

• Certain sectors (like transport or health services) may have exceptions to some rules, but they must still ensure employees get adequate rest and time off.

9. Enforcement

• Employees can make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission if their employer does not comply with the Act.

In Summary:

The Organisation of Working Time Act ensures employees:

• Don’t work too many hours.
• Get proper rest breaks and holidays.
• Are compensated for working on Sundays and public holidays.

It’s designed to promote work-life balance and protect workers from overworking.