Staying compliant with the Working Time Directive (WTD) can be a complex, time-consuming task – especially for businesses operating across multiple sites with large teams. With legal requirements to track working hours, prevent fatigue-related incidents, and manage compliance, companies face serious risks if mistakes are made.
Re-flow’s fatigue tracking feature streamlines operations, eliminates human error, and protects workers, all while ensuring safety standards are upheld through WTD compliance.
The Working Time Directive overview: what you need to know
The WTD, of course, sets legal limits on working hours to protect employees from fatigue and overwork. Key points include:
• Employees cannot work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over 17 weeks (unless they opt out).
• Workers under 18 are limited to 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
• Employees who opt out must do so voluntarily, in writing, and can opt back in with notice.
Overtime pay and opt-out considerations
• Employers don’t have to pay a higher rate for overtime unless contractually agreed.
• If an employee hasn’t opted out, they can exceed 48 hours in a single week – but their average over 17 weeks must remain below the legal limit.
• Employees cannot be treated unfairly for refusing to opt out.
On-call hours and working time rules
For industries requiring 24-hour staffing tracking compliance manually is a challenge. On-call time often creates grey areas:
• If an employee must remain at a set location and respond immediately, this is counted as working time – even if they aren’t actively working.
• If an employee only needs to be contactable (e.g. by phone) and is free to do personal activities, this is typically not counted as working time until they begin a task.
• Once an employee starts performing duties, their working time begins, and they must be paid accordingly.
Why fatigue tracking matters
Fatigue isn’t just a compliance issue – it’s a serious safety risk. Poorly managed working hours lead to:
• Reduced concentration and decision-making ability.
• Increased accident risk on-site and on the road.
• Long-term health issues and reduced productivity.
The consequences can be severe, from life-threatening accidents to major fines and legal action. Managing compliance effectively isn’t just about following the rules – it’s about protecting your workforce and business.
How Re-flow automates compliance and fatigue tracking
Ensuring these rules are followed across multiple shifts, locations, and teams is complex. Re-flow automates this process 5 , ensuring no worker is scheduled beyond their legal limit.
• Fatigue management is built into scheduling, preventing compliance risks before they happen.
• As operatives are assigned jobs, the system checks pre-set criteria and blocks scheduling if limits are exceeded.
• Digital timesheets automatically build out a company-wide database of working hours.
• Managers gain real-time visibility into workforce scheduling, reducing admin workload.
• Non-compliance risks – like excessive hours – are flagged and prevented, avoiding serious incidents and fines.
Customisable Automation for your business
Re-flow’s intuitive interface makes compliance simple, with configurable settings that match your company’s specific needs. You can set automated restrictions on working hours, including:
• Maximum hours per shift or per week.
• Limits on consecutive days worked before a required break.
• Minimum rest periods between shifts.
• Notification triggers for admin teams if scheduling conflicts arise.
With Re-flow, companies can eliminate human error and ensure compliance runs seamlessly in the background – so you can focus on running an efficient, safe business.
Take a deeper dive into the Working Time Directive here
Pic: Re-flow
