How often can I work employed shifts?

In the Netherlands, there are rules about how much you can work as an employee. These rules cover things like maximum working hours, breaks, and rest periods.

If you work too many employed shifts, you might not be able to apply for a shift, or a shift you've already picked up could be withdrawn automatically.

The rules below apply to all employed shifts on the platform, not freelance shifts.

Maximum employed shift length

A shift can never be longer than 12 hours, and during your shift, you’re entitled to a break. The length of the break depends on how long you’re working and these breaks can be split up during your shift, as long as the total time is met.

You can split your 12-hour limit into two shorter shifts. Keep in mind that you must leave at least a 2-hour gap between shifts, as the system only allows you to apply for a second shift if there’s at least a one-hour gap.

Rest time between employed shifts

After every workday, you’re entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours of rest. And over a period of 7 or 14 days there are obligatory stretches of rest you need to take.

Limit on working hours per week

Even though you can work up to 12 hours in a shift, you can’t do that every day. There are rules for how many hours you can work in a week.

These limits are in place to make sure you still get enough time to rest and recover, even if you're working more temporarily.

Special rules for night shifts

If you prefer working night shifts, there are a few extra rules to be aware of for employed shifts. A shift counts as a night shift if any part of it falls between midnight and 6 AM. Night shifts can last a maximum of 10 hours.

If your shift ends after 2 AM, you must take at least 14 hours of rest afterward instead of 11. Also, you’re only allowed to work a maximum of 117 night shifts per year.