What breaks am I allowed under the Working Time Directives?
Most workers should not have to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, according to the Working Time Regulations. The Regulations also give you rights to paid holiday, rest breaks and limits on night work.
Most workers have the right to take breaks, but whether or not you are paid for them depends on the terms of your employment contract.
You will normally have a variety of different breaks from work. These can be broken down into three types:
'Rest breaks' - lunch breaks, tea breaks and other short breaks during the day
'Daily rest' - the break between finishing one days work and starting the next (for most people this is overnight between week days)
'Weekly rest' - whole days when you don't come into work (for many people this will be the weekend)
If you are under 18 and over school leaving age (you are under school leaving age until the end of the summer term of the school year in which you turn 16) you are classed as a young worker. Young workers cannot usually be made to work more that eight hours a day or 40 hours a week. These hours can't be averaged over a longer period. There are some exceptions to these rules.
