No sector agreement, one act.
There is no sector-wide agreement for vet practices in Great Britain: working time follows the regulations and each contract. The rules below come from the Working Time Regulations 1998.
The limits that shape a month.
The regulations have special cases (regulation 21), including hospitals “or similar establishments” and agriculture, where some rest rules can be replaced by compensatory rest. Whether a vet practice falls within them has not been settled: don’t assume it does without advice.
Out-of-hours cover.
The RCVS supporting guidance asks every vet in practice to take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief. You don’t have to be on duty yourself at all times: shared rotas or a dedicated emergency clinic are accepted, as long as clients are told how to reach help.
The monthly rota checklist.
- Each person’s hours against their contract, and the rolling 48-hour average.
- 11 consecutive hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next, on-call call-outs included.
- Weekly rest for everyone.
- Breaks written into long days.
- Nights spread so the night worker limits are respected.
The version with a tool.
With Djed, the rules you set (days off, a limit on days per week, consecutive days, rest days after on-call, closures) are constraints the engine doesn’t break when it builds the month. They are day-based rules that approximate the law: limits counted in hours (11 hours, weekly rest, the 48-hour average, breaks) are not checked. Compliance is for you and your adviser.
Sources and date checked.
- Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833), regulations 4 to 12. Northern Ireland has its own regulations, the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, with the same limits.
- RCVS, supporting guidance, chapter 3: 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief.
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 exact rest after a night, case by case: rest after on-call.
- When on-call counts as working time, and what to put in the contract: our on-call guide.
- Three long days a week, and what it costs in cover: three long days.
- Nights, the 8-hour average and who counts as a night worker: night workers.
- Proving those hours, a duty of its own: what regulation 9 still requires.
Frequently asked questions.
Is there a collective agreement for UK vet practices?
No sector-wide agreement exists. The Working Time Regulations 1998 and each contract apply.
Are vet practices a special case under regulation 21?
That hasn’t been settled. Regulation 21 covers hospitals or similar establishments and agriculture, among others; don’t assume a vet practice qualifies without advice.
Does Djed apply the regulations on its own?
No. You set day-based rules (days off, limits, rest days) and the engine doesn’t break them; limits counted in hours aren’t checked, and compliance is for you and your adviser.