Spread over versus working hours
Working hours count only the time spent working. Spread over counts the whole span from first start to final finish. On a normal 9 am to 6 pm day with a one-hour lunch, working hours are eight and spread over is nine. The two drift apart with split shifts, long unpaid breaks and waiting time between tasks, which is why spread over is treated as a limit of its own rather than left to hours worked.
The legal position
Under the OSH Code, ordinary daily work is capped at eight hours, and the government notifies the intervals, spread-over and weekly limits. The spread-over limit for your establishment therefore comes from the notified central or state rules, which may also carry exemptions for some kinds of work. Read the OSH Code rules on hours and overtime before designing split shifts or long days, and keep records of start and end times that show the spread over clearly.
Where spread over causes problems
In each of these jobs the hours worked may look fine on paper while the spread over is long. Rosters should show both figures, and managers should watch for days where employees are tied to the workplace from early morning until late evening.
- Split shifts in restaurants, catering and school transport
- Drivers who wait between trips during the day
- Housekeeping staff who clean before opening and after closing
- Event and hospitality staff with long days and gaps
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What is spread over time?
Spread over time is the full span of an employee's working day, from the moment work starts to the moment it finally ends, including breaks and any unpaid gaps. It is used alongside hours worked, because a day can have acceptable working hours but still keep the employee tied up for too long.
Does spread over include the lunch break?
Yes. Spread over runs from the start of work to the end of work, so it includes lunch breaks, tea breaks and any unpaid gaps in between. That is the main difference from working hours, which exclude unpaid breaks. A 9 am to 6 pm day with a one-hour lunch has eight working hours and a spread over of nine hours.