How to ask for more hours at work

Yes, you can ask for more hours. There is no law that makes your employer say yes. But a clear, well-timed request often works, because shops need people who can cover busy weeks, holidays and sickness. This guide explains how to ask, what to say, how a formal written request works, and what to do if the answer is no.

The rules below are for workers in England, Scotland and Wales. Every legal point links to GOV.UK or ACAS at the end of the page.

Can you ask for more hours at work?

Yes. Anyone can ask their manager for more hours at any time, and employees can also make a formal written request from their first day in a job. Your employer does not have to agree, but they should listen and think about it properly.

ACAS, the workplace advice service, says either you or your employer can suggest a change to your terms. Any change to your contract must then be agreed by both sides. So asking is always allowed. What you get depends on the needs of the shop and how you ask.

Shops often have spare hours at certain times. Christmas, the summer holidays and the January sales are often busy times. New stores, staff leaving and colleagues on long-term sick leave can also free up shifts. If you know when these happen, you can time your request well.

Overtime, extra shifts or a bigger contract: what is the difference?

Extra hours come in different forms. Some are one-off shifts, and some change your contract for good. It helps to know which one you want before you ask.

Is overtime paid at a higher rate?

Not always. GOV.UK says employers do not have to pay for overtime at all, let alone at a higher rate. Your contract should say how overtime is paid. But across all the hours you work, your average pay must never fall below the minimum wage.

Part-time workers have an extra rule to know about. GOV.UK says part-timers may not get an overtime rate until they work more than the normal full-time hours. So if full-timers at your shop do 37.5 hours, you might get your normal rate for everything up to that point.

Why a bigger contract is usually better

Extra shifts are useful, but a higher contract gives you a pay packet you can plan around. Your employer cannot simply stop the hours when things go quiet, because any change to your contract needs your agreement. If you keep picking up the same extra shifts every week, that is a good reason to ask for them to be added to your contract.

ACAS says terms can sometimes change through "custom and practice", where a pattern goes on for so long that both sides are taken to have agreed it. This is a grey area, so it is safer to get any change agreed in writing.

What should you check before you ask?

Check three things first: your contract, the legal limits on working hours, and how more pay will affect your money. Five minutes of checking can save you from a request you later regret.

Your contract

Every employee and worker has the right to a written statement of their main terms. GOV.UK says it must show your hours and days of work, whether they can vary, and whether you may have to work overtime. Find yours and note your contract hours. If your employer changes your terms, they must tell you in writing within one month.

The legal limits on hours

Most adults cannot be made to work more than 48 hours a week on average, normally measured over 17 weeks. You can choose to opt out of this limit in writing. But your employer cannot sack you or treat you unfairly for refusing to opt out. If you do opt out, you can cancel it later with at least 7 days' notice (or up to 3 months, if your opt-out agreement says so).

Rest rules still apply however many hours you do:

• Breaks: a 20-minute break if you work more than 6 hours in a day.
• Between shifts: 11 hours off between one working day and the next.
• Each week: 24 hours off in a row each week, or 48 hours every two weeks.

If you are under 18, the limits are tighter. You cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. You get a 30-minute break if you work more than 4.5 hours, and 12 hours off between working days.

Your money

More hours usually means more money, but check a few things first:

• Pay: from April 2026 the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. At that rate, 4 extra hours a week adds £50.84 before tax. Our guide to retail pay in 2026 shows what shops pay above the minimum.
• Universal Credit: once your earnings go over your work allowance, your payment goes down by 55p for every extra £1 you earn. You still keep 45p of each extra pound, before tax.
• Holiday: most workers get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, worked out on the hours you do. More hours can mean more paid holiday, up to a cap of 28 days.
• Pension: if you are aged between 22 and State Pension age and start earning at least £10,000 a year, your employer must put you into a workplace pension automatically.
• Tax: earning more can mean paying more income tax and National Insurance. Check your payslip after the change.

If you are on a student visa

Students on a visa have strict limits. Under the Immigration Rules, full-time degree-level students with a compliant university sponsor can work up to 20 hours a week in term time. Other courses can have lower limits. Check the conditions on your own visa before you take on more shifts. Our guide to part-time retail jobs for students covers working around study.

How to ask your manager for more hours

Ask in person, at a quiet moment, and be specific about what you want. A clear request is much easier for a manager to say yes to than a vague "can I have more hours?".

Pick the right time

Do not ask in the middle of a rush or at the end of a long shift. Ask for a few minutes when the shop is quiet, or book a short chat. The best times are often just before the rota is planned, and in the weeks before a busy season.

Be specific

Say how many extra hours you want and when you can work them. "I'd like 8 more hours a week, and I can do Thursday and Friday evenings" is far better than "I want more hours". Managers plan rotas around gaps, so show them which gaps you can fill.

Show you are flexible

Shops need cover at awkward times: early mornings, late evenings, weekends and nights. If you can offer some of these, say so. You could also offer to cover holidays or sickness at short notice, or to work in other departments. If nights appeal, our guide to night-shift retail jobs explains the pay and the work.

Give a reason to say yes

Remind your manager of what you already do well. You might be reliable, trained on the tills, or good with customers. If you already pick up extra shifts most weeks, point this out. It shows the hours are there.

An example of what to say

Here is an example you can adapt. It is our own wording, not a script from any retailer.

> "Have you got five minutes? I'd like to talk about my hours. I'm on 16 hours at the moment, and I'd like to go up to 24 if there's room. I'm free on Wednesday and Saturday, and I'm happy to do early starts. I've picked up extra shifts most weeks since the summer, so I think the hours are there. Could you let me know what's possible when you plan the next rota?"

After the chat, send a short message or email that sums up what you asked for. It gives you a record, and it reminds your manager.

How does a formal written request work?

If a chat does not work, employees can make a formal "statutory flexible working request" in writing. It covers changes to the number of hours you work, as well as when and where you work.

GOV.UK says all employees have the right to make this request from their first day in a job. You can make 2 requests in any 12-month period. Your employer must decide within 2 months, unless you both agree to take longer.

What to put in your request

Your written request must include:

• The date you are making the request.
• A statement that it is a statutory flexible working request.
• The change you want, such as a higher number of contract hours, and the date you would like it to start.
• Any earlier requests you have made, with their dates.

Your employer must talk to you about the request before they turn it down. Ask a friend at work or a union rep to help you prepare, if you have one.

Reasons an employer can say no

An employer can only refuse for certain business reasons. For a request for more hours, the most likely ones are that there is not enough work at the times you want, or that the extra cost would harm the business. Others include not being able to meet customer demand, or planned changes to the workforce.

There is no automatic legal right to appeal a refusal. But if your employer has an appeal process, you can use it. You cannot take a claim to an employment tribunal just because your request was refused. You can claim if your employer did not handle it properly, based the decision on wrong facts, or treated you badly because you asked. You must claim within 3 months.

What if your manager says no?

Ask why, stay polite, and ask what would need to change for the answer to be yes. A "no" today is often a "not yet", especially in a shop where hours rise and fall through the year.

Ask to be first in line

Ask your manager to put your name down for any hours that come up. Tell them your availability in writing, so it is easy to find when someone leaves or a busy period starts. Offer to cover sickness at short notice, as this is often how extra hours begin.

Look at other stores or departments

Big retailers often have more than one store near you. Ask if you can pick up shifts at another branch, or move to a store with more hours. Some shops also have online picking, stockroom or night teams that may need more people.

Check you are treated fairly

Part-time workers must not be treated worse than full-timers just because they are part-time. If you think this is why you were turned down, you can ask your employer for a written statement of reasons. They must reply in writing within 21 days. If you are not sure, you can get free, private advice from ACAS.

Think about a second job

Some people top up their hours with a second part-time job. If you do, make sure the rotas fit together and that you still get your rest breaks. Two jobs can also affect your tax code, so check your payslips. You can search part-time retail jobs near you to see what is out there.

What changes are coming to hours in retail?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will bring new rights on hours, but most of them have not started yet. When we checked in September 2026, the government listed them for 2027, with exact dates still to be set after consultation.

The GOV.UK timeline includes a right to guaranteed hours, a right to reasonable notice of shifts, and payments when shifts are cancelled at short notice. These are aimed at people on zero-hours and low-hours contracts. The timeline also lists changes to flexible working for 2027.

Until these changes start, the rules in this guide still apply. We will update this page when the dates are confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer refuse to give me more hours?

Yes. Your employer does not have to give you more hours. But if you are an employee and make a formal flexible working request, they must follow the process and can only refuse for certain business reasons.

Will I get paid more for overtime?

Only if your contract says so. There is no legal rule that overtime must be paid at a higher rate. Your average pay across all your hours must still be at least the minimum wage.

Can I be punished for asking for more hours?

You should not be. If you make a formal flexible working request, your employer must not treat you badly because you asked. If they do, you may be able to make a claim, and ACAS can advise you.

How many hours can I work if I am 16 or 17?

No more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. You must also get a 30-minute break if you work more than 4.5 hours. Once you are over school leaving age, these rules apply to your retail job.

Should my extra hours be written into my contract?

If you want them to be guaranteed, yes. Extra shifts can stop at any time. If your contract hours go up, your employer must confirm the change in writing within one month.

Will more hours reduce my Universal Credit?

Once your earnings are above your work allowance, your Universal Credit goes down by 55p for every £1 you earn. You still end up with more money overall from the extra work, before tax.

Find more hours in retail

If your current shop cannot give you more hours, another one might. Search part-time retail jobs or full-time retail jobs to compare contract hours. With Christmas coming, our Christmas retail jobs guide shows who is hiring. Our membership adds job alerts and a tracker for your applications.

This is general information, not legal or careers advice. Check the retailer's advert and the official source before you act.

Sources and further reading

• Flexible working — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Applying for flexible working — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Flexible working: after the application — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Flexible working: appeals — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Changes to your contract: advice for employees — ACAS, checked 28 September 2026
• Written statement of employment particulars — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Overtime: your rights — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Part-time workers' rights — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Maximum weekly working hours — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Weekly maximum working hours and opting out — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Rest breaks at work — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Rest breaks: young workers — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Universal Credit: how your wages affect your payments — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Holiday entitlement — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Joining a workplace pension — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Immigration Rules: Appendix Student — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026
• Employment Rights Act timeline — GOV.UK, checked 28 September 2026