WTR Compliance Reports
Stay on the right side of UK Working Time Regulations with automatic monitoring and clear compliance reports.
What Is WTR?
A plain-English explanation of the Working Time Regulations.
WTR stands for Working Time Regulations. These are UK laws that protect workers from being asked to work excessive hours. As an employer or agency, you have a legal responsibility to make sure your workers are not exceeding the limits set by these regulations.
TempClock helps you stay compliant by automatically tracking working hours and flagging any workers who are approaching or exceeding the legal limits.
WTR compliance is a legal requirement, not optional. Failing to comply can result in enforcement action from HMRC or the Health and Safety Executive. TempClock makes it easy to monitor, but it is your responsibility to act on the data.
The 48-Hour Rule
The key limit you need to know about.
The most important WTR rule for staffing agencies is the 48-hour weekly limit. Here is what it means:
Workers should not work more than an average of 48 hours per week
The average is usually measured over a 17-week rolling period, not a single week
A worker can work more than 48 hours in one week as long as the average over 17 weeks stays at or below 48
Almost all workers in the UK, including temporary and agency workers
For example, if a worker does 52 hours one week but 44 hours the next, their two-week average is 48 hours — which is compliant. The 17-week rolling window gives more flexibility for occasional busy periods.
The 17-week reference period is the standard. Some sectors (such as healthcare or transport) use different reference periods. If you are unsure which applies to your workers, check with your legal advisor.
Click "Reports" in the sidebar
From the manage portal, click Reports in the left-hand sidebar.
Select "WTR Report"
Click WTR Report from the reports menu. This opens the Working Time Regulations compliance dashboard.
Review the overview
The report opens with an overview showing how many workers are currently compliant, how many are approaching the limit, and how many have exceeded it.
Reading the WTR Report
Understanding the details and what the colours mean.
Below the overview cards, the report shows a detailed table listing every worker and their average weekly hours. Each worker is colour-coded based on their compliance status.
| Worker | 17-Week Avg | This Week | Status | Opt-Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Johnson | 38.2 hrs | 40.0 hrs | Compliant | No |
| James Peters | 46.1 hrs | 50.0 hrs | Approaching | No |
| Tom Williams | 51.3 hrs | 54.0 hrs | Exceeding | No |
| Maria Lopez | 35.8 hrs | 36.0 hrs | Compliant | No |
Here is what each status means:
The worker's 17-week average is well below 48 hours. No action needed.
The worker's average is between 44 and 48 hours. Keep an eye on their hours and consider reducing shifts.
The worker's average has gone above 48 hours. This needs immediate attention unless the worker has signed an opt-out agreement.
Workers highlighted in red need urgent attention. If they have not signed an opt-out agreement, you should reduce their hours immediately to bring their average back below 48.
Opt-Out Agreements
When and how workers can voluntarily agree to work beyond 48 hours.
Workers can choose to opt out of the 48-hour limit voluntarily. If a worker signs an opt-out agreement, they are allowed to work more than 48 hours per week on average. However, there are important rules:
Recording an opt-out in TempClock
Go to the worker's profile
Navigate to Workers, find the worker, and click to open their profile.
Open the compliance section
Scroll down to the Compliance section of their profile, or click the Compliance tab.
Record the opt-out
Toggle the WTR Opt-Out switch to on. Enter the date the agreement was signed. You can also upload a copy of the signed agreement for your records.
Save
Click Save. The worker will now be marked as "Opted Out" on the WTR report, and their row will no longer appear in red even if they exceed 48 hours.
Even when a worker has opted out, you still have a duty of care to make sure they are not working unsafe hours. Keep an eye on opted-out workers and make sure they are getting adequate rest.
Exporting Compliance Data
Download your WTR data for audits and record-keeping.
You can export the full WTR compliance report as a CSV file for your records. This is useful for audits, client reviews, or sharing with your legal team.
Set up the report
Make sure the WTR report is showing the data you want to export. You can filter by location or worker status if needed.
Click "Export CSV"
Click the Export CSV button in the top-right corner of the report. The file downloads to your computer.
Review the export
The CSV includes every worker, their 17-week average, current week hours, opt-out status, and compliance status. Open it in Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis.
It is good practice to export your WTR compliance data at least once a month and keep it on file. If you are ever audited, having historical records shows you were actively monitoring compliance.
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