When do the clocks go forward? Everything workers need to know, including whether they work an hour for free

HOUSEHOLDS across the country will lose an hour of kip as the clocks spring forward in the early hours of Sunday morning.

British Summer Time (BST) begins at 1am on March 30 when the time automatically skips an hour to 2am.

When the clocks go forward, the UK moves from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Daylight Saving Time.

This change gives more daylight in the evenings but initially comes with darker mornings.

There are rules surrounding working hours during the clock change which should clarify your rights.

Will I have to work an hour later?

If you usually work a night shift until 8am, for example, you'd work a shorter shift than usual unless you did an extra hour on that shift until 9am.

But what exactly is expected will depend on how your employment contract is worded.

For example, if it says you have to work specific times, such as 12am to 8am, you will likely have a shorter shift than usual.

However, if it states the number of hours you should work, for example, an eight-hour shift, you may have to finish an hour later.

Will I get paid for the lost hour?

If you're among those who work nights, whether you'll receive pay for an hour your didn't work typically depends on how you are paid.

If you're paid by the hour, you're unlikely to get paid for the hour that vanished between 1-2am.

However, if you are salaried or paid a day rate, you could find that your employer pay you the same amount as usual even though you put in a shorter shift.

Bear in mind if your contract says you have to work between certain hours and you are paid for hours worked, the employer doesn't have to pay for the extra hour when clocks go back in October.

What are night workers' rights?

You are entitled to certain rights if you work night shifts, as per the Working Time Regulations.

You are classed as a night worker if you work at least three hours through the night, usually between 11pm and 6am.

If you do night work, you should not have to work more than eight hours in a 24-hour period. This is usually calculated over a 17-week period.

Regular overtime is included in this average, and workers cannot opt out of this limit.

Because of the health impacts of night time working, your employer must offer you a free health assessment regularly.

You also have a right to breaks.

You are allowed at least one uninterrupted 20-minute break if your shift is longer than six hours.

You must also have at least 11 consecutive hours' rest in any 24-hour period and one day off each week or two consecutive days off in a fortnight.

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