What is my break entitlement for working 6 hours?

[Helen812]

Hi, I can't find a solid answer to this but I work 6 hour shifts and have been taking one 15 minute break on each shift.
I have found out that some of my other colleagues have been taking half an hour.
What am I legally entitled to? When I Google it, it just talks about entitlements for working 4 hours or over 6 hours but not what you are entitled to for working just 6 hours.

If you're over 18 and working in the UK, you are entitled to a 20 minute break if you work over six hours.

So if your shift is six hours (or under), there is no break entitlement.

www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/rest-breaks-at-work-overview/

Legally nothing, so you’ll need to check your contract.

If you're an adult then there's no legal entitlement to a break until you've exceeded 6 hours of work.

So for example if you work 8am-2pm there's no legal requirement for a break however if you work 8am to 2.15pm then a 20 minute break is legally required within the duration of that shift which can be and is often unpaid

For every 6 hours of work you must have a break away from your workstation for no less than 20 minutes.

For young workers (classed as under 18 as far as I remember) they're entitled to a 30 minute break for every 4 hours 30 minutes they work.

This is all according to the Working Time Directive. Anything above the legal minimum is at employer discretion.

Thanks everyone, 6 hours seems to be a long time to not be entitled to any break

In my job its 15 minutes from 4 and up to and including 6 hours. Big national hospitality company. Everywheres different though, not sure legally where you stand.

@Helen812

Thanks everyone, 6 hours seems to be a long time to not be entitled to any break

But you are obviously entitled to one contractually anyway, so you just need to check how long you are supposed to be taking.

Thanks everyone, 6 hours seems to be a long time to not be entitled to any break

Yes it can definitely feel like a long time, especially if you're on your feet all the time. I used to take a morning and afternoon toilet 'break' at strategic moments to give myself a break if I really needed one.

But will that break be paid? I used to work 6 hours straight because my breaks were not paid and if I took one I had to work on an extra 20 mins.

I work 6 hours as a vaccinator and I get 15 minutes but legally, there is no break entitlement until after 6 hours.

We have staff members who work part-time, 6 hours for 4 days. They are not entitled to a break. Full time staff work 35 hours per week, 9-5 with 1hr lunch which is unpaid. If your colleagues are taking an hour break in a 6hr shift it should be unpaid.

@Helen812

Thanks everyone, 6 hours seems to be a long time to not be entitled to any break

It can be. As most breaks are unpaid you always have the option to extend your shift so you can take an unpaid break in the middle of it. As PP have said though, check your contract. There may already be provision for small breaks within the 6 hours which is why you can see others taking advantage

I've always used the Working Time Directive in the opposite way, to work as short a day as legally possible including breaks so that I can return home quicker...but then 10 hours of work is long enough without stretching the day with unpaid breaks.

@Abouttoblow

We have staff members who work part-time, 6 hours for 4 days. They are not entitled to a break. Full time staff work 35 hours per week, 9-5 with 1hr lunch which is unpaid. If your colleagues are taking an hour break in a 6hr shift it should be unpaid.

It depends on company policy.

The law states no break, but companies can pay you for whatever number of breaks they wish as long as it meets the legal minimum.