Can we set flexible working hours while keeping core hours?

Yes, and it is a popular middle ground. Define core hours when everyone must be available (for example, 11am to 3pm) and let employees choose start and end times around them. This balances coordination needs with personal flexibility while preserving accountability.

How should the policy address employees who are consistently late?

Include a clear tardiness definition, a tracking method, and a progressive response starting with a conversation and moving to documented warnings. Apply it consistently to avoid claims of unfair treatment. Consider legitimate reasons like transit delays before escalating.

Do office working hours affect overtime pay?

They can. Hours worked beyond the standard schedule may trigger overtime under local labor law, so the policy should require pre-approval for extra hours. Track actual time worked accurately, because verbal agreements do not override statutory overtime entitlements.

Office Working Hours Policy

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Company Name

Effective Date

Policy Owner

Approved By

Standard Working Hours

Office Working Hours Policy

Office Working Hours Policy

Company Name: 
Effective Date: 
Policy Owner: 
Approved By: 
Standard Working Hours: 

PURPOSE & SCOPE
- This policy specifies the Organization's standard office working hours, break times, and attendance expectations for employees working on-site.
- This policy applies to all employees who work from the Organization's office premises, whether on a full-time, part-time, or hybrid basis.

STANDARD WORKING HOURS & BREAKS
- The Organization's standard working hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, inclusive of a 1-hour lunch break, totalling 40 hours per week.
- Employees are entitled to short rest breaks in addition to the lunch break, in compliance with applicable working time regulations.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY
- Employees are expected to arrive punctually and shall record their attendance through the Organization's time management system. Persistent lateness shall be addressed by the manager.
- Employees who need to leave the office during working hours for personal appointments shall obtain manager approval in advance and record the absence in the time management system.

POLICY REVIEW
- This policy shall be reviewed annually by the HR department and updated to reflect changes in working time legislation, operational needs, and employee feedback.

The complete guide

Everything you need to know

01What Is an Office Working Hours Policy?

An office working hours policy defines the standard start and end times, break periods, and total daily or weekly hours employees are expected to work on-site. It may set fixed hours, flexible windows, or core hours during which everyone must be present. The policy creates a shared understanding of when the workday begins and ends, and how attendance and punctuality are recorded and evaluated.

02Why Companies Need an Office Working Hours Policy

Clear working hours keep operations running smoothly, ensure adequate coverage during business hours, and set fair expectations for punctuality. The policy supports accurate payroll, overtime calculations, and compliance with labor laws on maximum hours and rest breaks. It also reduces friction over late arrivals or early departures by giving managers an objective standard, while still allowing structured flexibility where the business can accommodate it.

03What an Office Working Hours Policy Should Include

Specify standard hours, core hours, and any flexible windows. Detail lunch and rest break entitlements, and rules for clocking in and out. Explain how tardiness and early departures are handled, and the approval process for schedule changes or shift swaps. Address overtime authorization, coverage requirements for customer-facing teams, and how the policy interacts with remote or hybrid days. Keep it aligned with applicable wage and hour regulations.