Glossary

Rest Period

A rest period is the minimum uninterrupted time off the law guarantees between shifts and each week. It protects health and safety and sits alongside working-hour limits.

Common minimums

Daily rest: often at least 11 consecutive hours between working days (EU baseline).
Weekly rest: usually 24 hours, frequently combined with daily rest to about 35 hours.
Compensatory rest: equivalent rest given later when an exception shortens a normal rest period.

Exact figures vary by country, sector, and collective agreement.

Why it matters

Rest rules constrain how shifts and overtime can be scheduled, so planning and records need to account for them.

How Sandtime.io fits

Sandtime.io records hours and time off in one reviewable place, making it easier to see whether rest between shifts was actually taken.

Rest periods limit overtime and night work, are measured within a reference period, and connect to time off in lieu when rest is owed back.

Overtime

Hours worked beyond the standard workweek. Often subject to premium pay rates and labor law regulations.

Night Work

Work performed during a defined night window, often around 10pm to 6am, frequently carrying a separate pay allowance, tighter limits, or health checks.

Time Off in Lieu (TOIL)

Paid time off given instead of extra pay for overtime or work on a day off, also called comp time.

Reference Period

The window over which an average working-time limit is measured, so a busy week can be balanced by a lighter one within the average.