Policy

Breaks

Workers over 18 are usually entitled to 3 types of break: rest breaks at work, daily rest and weekly rest.

Rest breaks at work

Workers have the right to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during their working day, if they work more than 6 hours a day. This could be a tea or lunch break.

The break does not have to be paid. It depends on their employment contract.

Daily rest

Workers have the right to 11 hours rest between working days. For example, if they finish work at 8 pm, they should not start work again until 7 am the next day.

Weekly rest

Workers have the right to either:

  • an uninterrupted 24 hours without any work each week
  • an uninterrupted 48 hours without any work each fortnight

When breaks can be taken

Employers can say when employees take rest breaks during work time as long as:

  • the break is taken in one go somewhere in the middle of the day, not at the beginning or end
  • workers are allowed to spend it away from their desk or workstation, away from where they actually work

It does not count as a rest break if an employer says an employee should go back to work before their break is finished.

Unless stated in a contract

Unless a worker's employment contract says so, they do not have the right to:

  • take smoking breaks
  • get paid for rest breaks