Meal breaks
Unless it is operationally impractical, your security employees are entitled to at least a 30 minute unpaid meal break when their shift is longer than 5 hours.
Important! An employee is not entitled to a meal break where it is operationally impractical for them to have a break. This includes situations where the employee can’t leave the client’s premises or where the employee is required to be available to work during the meal break. If your security employee is required to be on duty during their meal break, or can’t leave the location of their work during the break, then they must be paid for the time.
Crib breaks
Under the Security Award, you must provide your security employees with a paid crib break.
All employees are entitled to the following crib breaks:
| Less than 4 hours |
No crib break |
| 4 hours |
10 minute crib break |
| 8 hours |
20 minute crib break (provided 4-5 hours after starting work, where practical) |
| 12 hours |
30 minute crib break (provided 4-5 hours after starting work, where practical). |
Example
Carl is a part-time crowd controller at a bar and his ordinary hours are Friday to Monday 6.00pm to 3.00am (9 hours per shift). Carl is unsure of what break entitlements he should receive and asks his employer.
His employer advises that under the Security Award, Carl is entitled to receive an unpaid meal break of not less than 30 minutes. Carl is permitted to leave the employer’s premises to take his break as the premises are sufficiently staffed by other security/crowd controllers.
Carl will also receive a 20 minute paid crib break, which he should take between 4 and 5 hours after the commencement of his shift.