Three long days a week for vets and vet nurses in Ireland: rest and the 48-hour average.

What the law limits.

• Daily rest: 11 consecutive hours in every 24 (section 11). A day from 8:00 to 20:00 means no return before 7:00 the next day.
• Breaks: 15 minutes after 4 hours 30 and 30 minutes after 6 hours, which can include the first (section 12).
• Weekly rest: 24 consecutive hours in every 7 days, preceded by a daily rest period and by default including a Sunday unless the contract says otherwise (or two 24-hour periods in the following week) (section 13).
• Weekly average: 48 hours a week on average over 4 months (section 15).

Pros and cons for the practice.

For the person: more days off in a row and fewer journeys, in exchange for very long days. For the practice: fewer handovers to organise, but every absence leaves a 12-hour gap to cover, and the overlap between morning and afternoon teams disappears.

Test it before announcing it.

Before announcing long days to the team, build a month with them. With Djed, shift mode lets you define 12-hour days and see whether cover holds up with real leave. The Clinic plan’s “what if?” simulator compares the current month with the variant, without touching the published rota. Djed doesn’t check the 11 hours or the 48-hour average: that check stays with you.

Sources and date checked.

• Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, revised edition (sections 11 to 17 and 25).

Texts checked on 5 October 2026. This guide is not legal advice: for your own situation, speak to your HR or employment adviser.

Where to go next.

• The other limits a 12-hour day must not break, under the OWT Act 1997: our working time guide, the reference guide of this series.
• On-call the night before a long day: our on-call guide and rest after on-call.
• If the long day runs into the night: night workers.
• On the nursing side, where shifts make it harder: vet nurses and vets on one rota.