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Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Legislation and case law change. Always consult a qualified solicitor for your specific situation.

UK Law Reference
All sections of Employment Rights Act 1996
1996 c. 18, s.41

Section 41 — Opted-out shop workers and betting workers.

Extent: E+W+S

This version in force from 2016-05-04

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a shop worker or betting worker is to be regarded as “opted-out” for the purposes of any provision of this Act if (and only if)—

(a) he has given his employer an opting-out notice,

(b) he has been continuously employed during the period beginning with the day on which the notice was given and ending with the day which, in relation to the provision concerned, is the appropriate date, and

(c) throughout that period, or throughout every part of it during which his relations with his employer were governed by a contract of employment, he was a shop worker or a betting worker.

(2) A shop worker is not an opted-out shop worker, and a betting worker is not an opted-out betting worker, if—

(a) after giving the opting-out notice concerned, he has given his employer an opting-in notice, and

(b) after giving the opting-in notice, he has expressly agreed with his employer to do shop work, or betting work, on Sunday or on a particular Sunday.

(3) [F1 In this Act “notice period”, in relation to an opted-out shop worker or an opted-out betting worker, means—]

(a) [F1 in the case of an opted-out shop worker who does shop work in or about a large shop, the period of one month beginning with the day on which the opting-out notice concerned was given;]

(b) [F1 in any other case, the period of three months beginning with that day.]

Amendment notes

  1. F1 S. 41(3) substituted (4.5.2016 for specified purposes) by Enterprise Act 2016 (c. 12), s. 44(1)(d), Sch. 5 para. 2