{"id":175403,"date":"2022-08-29T06:18:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T05:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=175403"},"modified":"2025-11-14T00:22:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T00:22:57","slug":"employees-longer-rest-breaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-longer-rest-breaks\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should an Employer Do If Workers Are Taking a Longer Rest Break Than Permitted?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As an employer, the law requires you to allow your workers to take rest breaks<\/a> while working for you. This applies to their working time during their shift and between each working day. Rest breaks during the day when your workers are working for you are essential. They enable your workers to stay fresh and maintain their energy, allowing them to work productively. However, you may find that your workers decide to take longer breaks than they are allowed to by law or under their contract with you. This can harm your team by disrupting work and causing others to copy the behaviour of taking longer breaks. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the rules regarding rest breaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will explain what you, as an employer, should do when a worker takes a longer rest break than they are allowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n \"Front\n
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2025 Key UK Employment Law Changes<\/div>\n
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This factsheet outlines key developments in 2025 affecting workforce management.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n\nDownload Now<\/a> <\/section>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

What are the Rules on Rest Breaks at Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When your employee is working, you must give them the rest breaks required by law. Workers who are over 18 years old are typically entitled to three different types of breaks, including rest breaks during their workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest breaks apply whether they work in the workplace or work from home. Where your workers work at least six hours for you, you must allow them a rest break of at least 20 minutes, and you can tell them when they must take this rest break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rest break should be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n