Hours of Work (Rules B1–B21)

The pattern of hours of work varies between institutions according to the particular needs of each institution. You may not be required to work the same number of hours in each week, depending on the workload of the institution. Each institution has an ‘approved scheme’ of hours per week which has been agreed by the Personnel Committee according to the overall rules for hours of work. You will be informed of the number of hours per week worked in your institution and your times of attendance, and will receive a copy of the relevant scheme with your letter of appointment.

The Rules specify hours of work as annual hours so that each institution can define a pattern that best suits its needs. You are expected to work for between 1666 and 1676 hours in any one year if you hold a full-time post in the CS Division, between 1689 and 1699 in any one year if you hold a full-time post in the T Division, and between 1712 and 1722 hours if you hold a post in the M Division. The typical working week is 36.5 hours, although staff in some institutions work a longer week and thus earn additional days of leave.

You will normally be expected to take a mid-day break of not less than one hour, which will not be included in your paid hours of work. In addition, subject to arrangements in your institution, you may take short morning and afternoon breaks, which should not add up to more than two hours per week in total. You should not normally leave the premises during these times, and if you do not take these breaks you may not deduct them from your hours of work. Legislation requires employees to take a break after a specified number of hours of work.

The Head of your Institution may require you to record your time of starting and finishing work each session.