The Working Hours Act states that employees are entitled to breaks and rest periods between shifts. Rest is important. Unfortunately, in busy sectors, it can sometimes be very difficult to take a break. So, what are the actual rules?
The Working Hours Act
The Working Hours Act provides, as the name suggests, rules for working and rest times for employees. The Working Hours Act applies to all employees earning less than three times the statutory minimum salary. Employees who earn more but regularly work at night and/or in high-risk areas are also covered by the Working Hours Act. This law distinguishes between young employees (employees under 18 years) and adults. Additionally, it differentiates between the duration per day and the duration per week for work and rest times. The main aim of the rules in this law is the protection of employees. Adequate rest is essential for safety and health.
Breaks
A break is understood as follows: a period of at least 15 minutes during which work is interrupted, and the employee has no obligations regarding work. This means that if you have to work during your break, for example, answering the phone, it cannot, in principle, be considered a break.
In the CLA recreation and CLA swimming pools, it is stated that as an employee, you are entitled to a half-hour break after 5.5 hours. The Working Hours Act states that for a shift of more than 10 hours, you are entitled to a 45-minute break. This can be split into breaks of 15 minutes each. The break is your own time and not working time, and you are generally not paid for it. A break of less than 15 minutes is counted as working time.
If you are under 18 years old, you are entitled to a 30-minute break after working more than 4.5 hours. In this case, the break can also be split into breaks of at least 15 minutes each. You can agree with your employer and colleagues on what time you have your break.