Rest breaks

Q: What is the legal requirement for meal breaks at work?

A: The entitlement to rest breaks comes under the Working Time Regulations 1999. An adult working more than six hours in a single period is entitled to a rest break of not less than 20 minutes. Guidance from the Department of Trade and Industry says that the break should be taken during the six hours - not right at the beginning or end of it. Young workers are entitled to a 30-minute break during a 4.5 hour working period.