Expanding your workforce in Italy requires a clear understanding of Italian labor laws on working hours, overtime and timekeeping compliance. For any employer operating in Italy, staying compliant with Italy's workforce regulations isn't optional—it's essential.
At Atlas HXM, we help businesses navigate these requirements with confidence, offering tools and expertise to manage Italy's working time regulations so they can focus on building productive, engaged teams.
Standard Working Hours in Italy
The typical Italy work hours are 8 hours per day, totaling 40 hours per week—usually spread across five days. However, Italy working hours can vary depending on industry-specific collective labor agreements (CLAs), which may reduce weekly hours or adjust scheduling norms.
Employees are also entitled to at least one rest day every seven days, generally on Sunday. However, exceptions apply for industries that operate continuously, such as healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. In these cases, employees who work on Sundays are usually granted premium pay rates, and a compensatory day off during the week.
Overtime Regulations and Employer Responsibilities
Under Italy workforce regulations, any work beyond 40 hours per week qualifies as overtime. Employers must authorize overtime in advance, employees cannot work extra hours at their own discretion.
Key points for employers:
Overtime cannot be performed at the employee’s discretion; it must be authorized by the employer.
The average working week, calculated over a reference period of up to four months (or up to 12 months if allowed by CLAs), must not exceed 48 hours, including overtime.
If no specific rules are set by a collective agreement, employees may work a maximum of 250 hours of overtime per year.
Understanding overtime laws in Italy helps international employers manage scheduling, payroll, and compliance effectively — especially when navigating multiple markets.
Breaks and Rest Periods
Italian labor legislation ensures employees receive adequate rest between shifts and during the workday:
Daily rest: Employees must have at least 11 consecutive hours of rest every 24 hours.
Meal and rest breaks: If the daily working time exceeds six hours, employees are entitled to a break interval, the duration and conditions of which are defined by the applicable collective agreement.
In general, employees must receive an unpaid break of at least 10 minutes per workday unless otherwise stated by the CLA.
Employers expanding into Italy must account for these requirements when designing schedules, recording hours, and managing timekeeping compliance in Italy.
Timekeeping and Recordkeeping
Accurate timekeeping and data management are critical for compliance under Italy's workforce regulations. Companies with 250+ employees must maintain a register of processing activities, including employee IDs and employment details. This data must be used solely for HR purposes and kept up to date to meet Italy workforce regulations and data protection laws.
Failure to maintain accurate records can lead to administrative penalties and compliance risks.
How Atlas HXM Supports Employers in Italy
Managing Italy work hours, overtime, and timekeeping compliance in Italy can be complex. Atlas HXM simplifies this process through:
Centralized timekeeping and reporting tools
Local compliance expertise in over 160 countries
End-to-end workforce management solutions, from hiring and payroll to mobility and benefits
Whether you're expanding into Italy or managing a growing European workforce, Atlas HXM ensures your operations align with Italian labor law, keeping your people compliant, protected, and productive.