In Israel, labor law dictates the maximum number of work hours per week, with some flexibility in scheduling those hours. The maximum legal workweek in Israel is 42 hours, which translates to a maximum of 182 hours per month.

For employees working a five-day schedule, the daily maximum is 8.6 hours. For a six-day schedule, the daily maximum is 8 hours, with a shorter workday on Friday. While the law allows for a six-day workweek, a five-day schedule is more common in corporate settings.

In Israel, labor law regulates overtime work to ensure fair compensation for exceeding standard work hours.

Overtime is considered any work performed beyond the legal maximum for your specific workweek. For a five-day workweek, overtime starts after 8.6 hours per day or 43 hours per week. For a six-day workweek, overtime begins after 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. Employers must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Labor to request employees to work overtime.

There are limitations on the amount of overtime an employee can work. Employees cannot work more than 4 hours of overtime per day. The maximum legal overtime per week is 16 hours for a five-day workweek or 12 hours for a six-day workweek.

Overtime work is compensated at a higher rate than regular hours. Employees receive 125% of their regular hourly wage for the first two hours of daily overtime. All hours worked after the initial two hours of daily overtime are compensated at 150% of the regular hourly wage.

Working on the weekly rest day or a national holiday comes with additional compensation. Employees are entitled to 150% of their regular hourly wage for all hours worked. The first two hours of overtime on a rest day or holiday receive 175% of the regular wage, with subsequent hours at 200%. Employers are prohibited by law from forcing employees to work more than 47 hours per week, including overtime.

Israeli labor law guarantees workers rest periods and breaks throughout the workday and workweek. Here's a breakdown of these entitlements based on relevant legislation:

Employees working at least six hours are entitled to a minimum of 45 minutes of rest, including a mandatory uninterrupted break of at least 30 minutes. This break is unpaid but allows employees time for relaxation and meal breaks.

• Exceptions: The Ministry of Labor can issue special permits for non-manual labor jobs to forgo breaks entirely, although this is uncommon.

All workers are entitled to a minimum of 36 consecutive hours of rest per week. This rest period typically coincides with the weekend, falling on Friday and Saturday due to religious observances.

• Religious Flexibility: The specific rest day can be adjusted based on the employee's religion. Jewish employees typically rest on Saturday, while those of other faiths can choose Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

• Reduced Rest Period (Exceptional Cases): The Ministry of Labor has the authority to grant permission for a shortened weekly rest period, down to a minimum of 25 hours, in specific circumstances.

• Important Note: Working during the weekly rest period is generally prohibited. However, exceptions may be granted by the Ministry of Labor for essential services or emergencies.

Israeli labor law acknowledges the unique demands of night and weekend work, and has implemented regulations to protect the well-being of workers and ensure they receive fair compensation.

Night work is defined as a work shift where at least two hours fall between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. A regular night shift cannot exceed seven hours per day, excluding overtime. This is due to the recognized challenges associated with nighttime work. An employee cannot be assigned night shifts for more than one week out of every two. This rotation ensures sufficient rest periods between night shifts. Employers requiring employees to work night shifts typically offer higher base wages or shift differentials to compensate for the disruption to normal sleep patterns.

All workers are entitled to a minimum of 36 consecutive hours of rest per week, which typically falls on Friday and Saturday due to religious observances. Working during the weekly rest period is generally prohibited. However, exceptions exist for essential services or emergencies, requiring a permit from the Ministry of Labor. Working on the weekly rest day typically comes with increased compensation, with employees receiving 150% of their regular hourly wage.

Situations may arise where night shifts fall on weekends. If a night shift extends beyond the regular workday hours on a weekend, overtime pay is calculated based on the overtime rates outlined in standard labor law. Employers might offer additional compensation on top of overtime pay to incentivize working night shifts on weekends due to the cumulative impact on worker well-being.

While weekend work is generally discouraged, some sectors, like hospitality or healthcare, may require weekend operations. The key takeaway is that employees should receive appropriate compensation and rest periods when working weekends or nights.