am I entitled to a rest break if I work 6 hours.My boss says I only get one if I work over 6 hours?

Answer 1

The current UK Working Time Regulations state that if you work OVER six hours you should be entitled to a 20 minute break away from your work station (if you want). So by the letter of the law he is right.

That said, you could argue that productivity could be increased by a 10 minute break after two hours followed by another 10 minute break two hours later.

However if you do ANY overtime, you could automatically get a free 20 minutes because the break you have must NOT be at the very beginning or the very end of the shift. That means AFTER 6 hours you can have a break, then you can do the overtime. Its the law and as your Boss has applied it, it would work both ways. Also if ANYONE at your company gets a paid work break, this overtime break must be paid too. If your boss says it shouldn't be just say the magic words "consistency" and "employment tribunal". The company MUST have one rule for everyone or they will won't stand a chance at an employment tribunal.

Try looking up Working Time Regulations in a search engine.

I have included two links, refer to section 12 in the first and section 6 in the second.

Answer 2

In the U.S., you're allowed a 15 minute break after working 4 hours consecutively. You are also allowed a 30 minute meal break during any 8 hour work day. These breaks are not at the discretion of the employer ... they are federal law. However, no employer is required to pay you for the break time ... they are 'off the clock'.

If your employer refuses to allow the breaks, and you work somewhere that is not unionized, contact the Labor Relations Board and register a complaint. If you are represented as a member of some labor union, contact your shop steward. It's the law!!

Answer 3

I recommend doing a search for your state's labor laws regarding rest periods.

This is direct from the US Dept of Labor's website:

Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks work-time that must be paid. Unauthorized extensions of authorized work breaks need not be counted as hours worked when the employer has expressly and unambiguously communicated to the employee that the authorized break may only last for a specific length of time, that any extension of the break is contrary to the employer's rules, and any extension of the break will be punished.

Bona fide meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.

Answer 4

Depends on your age as well. But if youre going to be working over 6 hours you should get a 20 minute break sometime during the working day. If you're working at a computer screen you should get regular short breaks, but not long enough to eat dinner etc usually.

Answer 5

Your entitlement to breaks is usually dealt with in your contract of employment and varies from company to company (hence the variation in the answers above).

Unfortunately if your contract of employment does not mention rest breaks at work then your employer is correct in what he says. I don't wnat to get into the technicalities of it but basically the law regarding breaks at work is contained in the EC Working Time Directive and it allows for 20 minutes break where a shift is scheduled to last for six hours or more. The employer is not under any obligation to ensure it is taken but must ensure that it is made available to the employee. The break may be taken during the shift, so it is not necessary to work a full six hours before your break is allowed (i.e. you may work three hours, take a break, then work the rest of your shift). The break may be paid or unpaid; i.e the employer does not HAVE to pay you for your break.

The above is for U.K

For further information check out www.dti.gov.uk

Answer 6

You are suposed to be entitled to a break after 4 hours, a minimum of 15 minutes I think.

Answer 7

uk regulation states you're entitled to a 20 minute wreck paid or unpaid in each and each 6 hour shift, to no longer be taken on the commencing up or end, yet someplace in between. So sure you're entitled. they might desire to look on the working Time Directive. ignore the different solutions they are u . s . a ..

Answer 8

You are allowed a break of 15 mins after only 4hrs work. You can quote to your boss the health and safety at wotk act 1973.
Also the break MUST be taken away from the work area.

Answer 9

Legally if over 18yrs you are entitled to 20 minutes in every shift lasting more than six hours. Under 18yrs breaks are 30 minutes in every 4.5 hours.

Answer 10

You are entitled to a break after four hour's, your boss is a sad ba$tard, oh and by the way I think your boss could be breaking the law, so Christine.....HAPPY NEW YEAR