Breaks
Learn about an employee’s entitlement to meal breaks, rest breaks and split shifts.
On this page:
- Rest breaks
- Meal breaks
- Breaks between shifts
- Breaks in your industry
- Tools and resources
- Related information
Rest breaks
A rest break allows an employee to rest for a short period of time during work hours. Rest breaks are also referred to as 'rest pauses' or 'tea breaks'.
Awards, enterprise agreements and other registered agreements set the rules for paid and unpaid rest breaks, including:
- the length of the breaks
- when they need to be taken
- the rules about payment.
Meal breaks
A meal break is a longer period of uninterrupted rest that allows the employee to eat a meal.
Awards, enterprise agreements and other registered agreements set the rules for paid and unpaid meal breaks, including:
- the length of the breaks
- when they need to be taken
- the rules about payment.
Crib breaks
A crib break is a paid meal break. Some awards and agreements include crib breaks for times when an employee:
- might need to resume work during their meal break
- needs to stay at work – that is, they can’t leave their work area or the workplace.
Breaks between shifts
Awards and registered agreements may provide for a minimum amount of time off between the end of one shift and the start of another.
Breaks in your industry
To find information about the minimum break requirements in your industry, please select from the list below.