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Breaks

Breaks for full-time employees

Under the Hair and Beauty Award, you must provide your employees with a minimum of one unpaid meal break of between 45 and 60 minutes after 5 hours work. Meal breaks can be shortened to 30 minutes by mutual agreement.

Your full-time employees are also entitled to two 10 minute paid rest breaks - one on either side of the meal break.

Breaks for part-time employees

Your part-time employees are entitled to the following breaks:

 Hours worked Rest break (paid)  Meal break (unpaid) 
Less than 4 hours No rest break No meal break
4 hours but less than 5 hours One 10 minute rest break No meal break
More than 5 hours but less than 7 hours One 10 minute rest break One meal break of 45 - 60 minutes
 7 hours or more Two 10 minute rest breaks, one during the period of work before, and one during the period of work after, the meal break. One meal break of 45 - 60 minutes

Breaks for casual employees

Your casual employees are entitled to the following breaks:

Hours worked Rest break (paid) Meal break (unpaid)
Less than 5 hours No rest break No meal break
More than 5 hours but less than 7 hours No rest break One meal break of 45 - 60 minutes
7 hours or more Two 10 minute rest breaks, one during the period of work before, and one during the period of work after, the meal break. One meal break of 45 - 60 minutes

Break between shifts

All employees must receive a minimum break of 12 hours between their shifts each day.

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Page last updated: 17 September 2010