Working Hours – Business Trading Hours

There are no laws restricting the trading hours of your business between Monday and Saturday inclusive.

Sunday

• Small shops with a floor area of up to 280 square metres can choose their own Sunday opening hours.
• Shops larger than 280 square metres can only open for a maximum number of six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm, providing they notify the local authority and provide visual signs of their opening hours internally and externally.
• There are a number of large shops exempt from Sunday trading laws, such as shops in airports and railway stations, and shops at service stations.
• Other types of businesses are not affected by the limits on trading hours.

If Sunday is not a regular trading day for your business, you can’t pressure staff into working on Sundays. Forcing them to work or sacking an employee for not doing so is a legal offence. Your employees may have special employment rights if they’re required to work in your shop on Sundays.

Christmas & Easter

• Small shops with a floor area of up to 280 square metres can choose their own Easter Sunday and Christmas Day opening hours.
• Shops larger than 280 square metres must not open on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
• There are a number of large shops exempt from Easter Sunday and Christmas Day trading laws, such as shops in airports and railway stations, and shops at service stations.
• Other types of businesses are not affected by the limits on trading hours.

More information

• Working Hours – Employee Hours & Break Entitlement
• Working Hours – Flexible Working Hours
• Working Hours – Paid Holiday Entitlement
• Working Hours – Notice for Paid Holiday
• Working Hours – Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave & Parental Leave
• Working Hours – Emergency Leave
• Working Hours – Emergency Leave