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Can you be made to work on Sundays?

You should check either your contract of employment or written statement of terms and conditions to see if you must work on Sundays or would have to if you were asked. If it says so, you'll have to work on Sundays. If it doesn't, then the only way of making you work on that day is by a change to your contract. This is something that must normally be agreed by both you and your employer, otherwise making you work on Sundays would amount to a breach of contract.

There are special rules for shop and betting workers - see below.

• Find out more about contracts of employment
• Read more about 'Changes to Working Conditions'
• Find out more about 'Breach of contract'

Working on Sundays if you're a Christian

If you're a practicing Christian you may have strong feelings about working on a Sunday. Everyone has the right not to be discriminated against because of their religion or belief (or because they have no religion or belief).

Speak to your employer and explain how important it is to you to have Sundays off to practice your religion. Employers will usually try to accommodate such requests (for example, by changing a shift pattern).

• Find out more about religious discrimination

Should you get more money for working on Sundays?

It's a matter for you and your employer as to whether you're paid more for working on a Sunday. There are no statutory rights in this area, so it depends on your contract.

Many businesses choose to reward employees who work outside normal working hours. Some pay time-and-a-half or double time, while others give extra time off.

Special rules if you're a shop worker or work in betting

If you work in a shop or in the betting industry (either at a betting shop open to the public or a bookmaker at a sports venue) you have special rights. You can opt out of having to work on Sunday even if your contract  says you have to. Your employer has to tell you about this right within two months of hiring you.

These rights don't apply if you're employed to work on Sundays only.

How to opt out of Sunday work

You opt out by writing to your employer and giving them three months' written notice that you want to stop working on Sundays.

If you decide to take the opt-out your employer doesn't have to offer you extra work on other days instead. You are likely to lose the wages you used to earn by working on Sundays.

Don't be worried about how opting out of Sunday working will affect your job security. Your employer is not allowed to treat you unfavourably (for example, deny you overtime or promotion) and you can't be dismissed fairly for refusing to work on Sundays under this right. An Employment Tribunal (or Industrial Tribunal In Northern Ireland) can award compensation if your employer breaks the rules.

• Guidance on resolving disputes in the workplace
• Guidance on resolving disputes in the workplace in Northern Ireland Opens new window

Long-standing shop and betting workers

If you're a long-standing shop or betting worker, you're already protected. If you're a shop worker, this applies if you've been working for the same employer since 25 August 1994. If you're a betting worker, the date is 2 January 1995. If you fall into either of these categories you only have to tell your employer that you don't work on a Sunday. This extra protection does not apply in Scotland.

If you're happy to work Sundays you can give your employer a written 'opting-in' notice that says you're prepared to work on Sundays. You must then agree exactly what work on Sundays, or on a particular Sunday, you're willing to do.

Any shop or betting worker who opts in to Sunday working has the right to opt out again at a later date (as long as they give the required notice).

What to do if you have problems

If you're worried about being asked to work on Sundays, you should talk informally to your employer first. If you are a shop or betting worker, think about whether to submit an opt-out.

If you're a shop or betting worker and feel you've been badly treated because you've opted out of Sunday work, you should follow the steps set out in the article on resolving problems at work.

• Guidance on resolving disputes in the workplace
• Resolving disputes in the workplace in Northern Ireland Opens new window

Where to get help

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues. You can call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.

• Acas Opens new window

The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues for residents of Northern Ireland. You can contact the LRA on 028 9032 1442 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

• Labour Relations Agency Opens new window

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can provide free and impartial advice. You can find your local CAB office in the phone book or online.

• Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau Opens new window

If you are a member of a trade union, you can get help, advice and support from them.

• Introduction to trade unions

More useful links

• Detailed guidance on Sunday shop and betting work from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) Opens new window
• Advice for employers on Sunday working from Business Link Opens new window
• Advice for employers in Northern Ireland on Sunday working from nibusinessinfo Opens new window