Law Work Breaks

Overworking has consistently proven to be bad for our health – it makes us sluggish, tired and makes us more likely to burn out faster.The fast-paced environment of work that many of us live in causes us to feel like we can’t take breaks – and that by doing so we’re failing at work.But more than often that is not the case – as employees we are entitled to break and as employers, we are obliged to give staff breaks.All workers over 18 are entitled to a 20-minute working break within a 6-hour working period. If you’re under 18, you’re entitled to 30 minutes, when over four and a half hours are worked.If as an employer, you see that your employee has not asked for a break, you are legally responsible for making sure they do so, and to make provision available for them do so. The responsivity of the employee taking a break rests on the employer.Lawfully every person is entitled to: A break is a period of time in which the employee feels that they are free from their job responsibility, is uninterrupted and can be used as they please.If for some reason there is a 20-minute break in working, for example, a waiting time – it cannot retrospectively become a break. A designated break must remain a break.Bear in mind, the rest break of a day does not have to be paid – it the choice of the employer. Employers can also dictate when the break is taken – however, the break has to be in the middle of the working day, and they can be away from their workstations.Young workers under 18 are entitled to slightly more rest – for example, they are entitled to a 30-minute break if they work more than four and a half hours. They are also entitled to 12-hour break between shifts within a 24-hour window. And under the law, they are also entitled to 48 hours leave in a week.Disputes can often arise about work breaks. To resolve issues or to seek legal advice speak to one of our team on 0116 2999 199.