Taking rest breaks at work
The work breaks required by law
Rest break law for adult workers
Adult employees who work for more than 6 consecutive hours are entitled to uninterrupted rest breaks of 20 minutes. The rest break should be taken during working time and not at either the start or the end of their working day.
Adult employees are also entitled to rest periods of 11 consecutive hours rest break in each 24 hour working period, and are entitled to one day off a week, which can be averaged over 2 weeks.
Rest break law for young or adolescent workers
Young employees are entitled to rest breaks of 30 minutes if they work more than 4.5 consecutive hours. A young worker is also entitled to twelve uninterrupted rest hours in each 24 hour working period, and is entitled to 2 days off each week, which cannot be averaged over 2 weeks.
Rotating shift patterns and other exceptional circumstances can affect these rest periods rights.
Taking rest breaks at work
The work breaks required by law
Rest break law for adult workers
Adult employees who work for more than 6 consecutive hours are entitled to uninterrupted rest breaks of 20 minutes. The rest break should be taken during working time and not at either the start or the end of their working day.
Adult employees are also entitled to rest periods of 11 consecutive hours rest break in each 24 hour working period, and are entitled to one day off a week, which can be averaged over 2 weeks.
Rest break law for young or adolescent workers
Young employees are entitled to rest breaks of 30 minutes if they work more than 4.5 consecutive hours. A young worker is also entitled to twelve uninterrupted rest hours in each 24 hour working period, and is entitled to 2 days off each week, which cannot be averaged over 2 weeks.
Rotating shift patterns and other exceptional circumstances can affect these rest periods rights.