The 48-hour rule

The rule in the Danish Working Time Act that an employee's average weekly working time must not exceed 48 hours including overtime, measured over a 4-month reference period. The rule stems from the EU Working Time Directive and applies to virtually all employees. Violations can trigger compensation to the employee, and since 2024 employers must be able to document compliance through working time registration. A few collective agreements allow a higher limit for selected groups under specific conditions.