Free toolsBreak checker
Break & working hours checker for UK shifts
Check a shift against the Working Time Regulations: the 20-minute break, 11 hours’ rest between shifts and the 48-hour week, with the stricter under-18 rules.
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Worked examples
This shift
8.5hours
Within the rules checked
- Rest breakMet
An 8.5-hour shift needs an uninterrupted 20-minute break. 20 minutes covers it.
Plain-English guidance from the Working Time Regulations 1998, not legal advice. Shift-work exceptions, sector agreements and opt-outs aren't covered; check GOV.UK or Acas for decisions.
UK rest breaks and working hours, in brief
The core minimums from the Working Time Regulations 1998, adults first and then under-18s. Plain-English guidance, not legal advice.
GOV.UK: Rest breaks at workA shift of more than 6 hours needs an uninterrupted 20-minute break.
8.5 h shift → 20 min
11 hours’ rest between one shift ending and the next one starting.
Close 23:00 → open 10:00
24 hours off each week, or 48 hours a fortnight, uninterrupted.
A day off a week
No more than 48 hours a week on average over 17 weeks, unless they opt out in writing.
48 h average
Under-18s: a 30-minute break over 4.5 hours, and 12 hours’ daily rest.
30 min · 12 h
Under-18s: normally no more than 8 hours a day and 40 a week, with no opt-out.
8 h · 40 h
Plan with the rules in view, not after a complaint.
When you fill a shift in Weekola, it checks the rest since their last shift, their availability, approved leave and contracted hours, and tells you before you publish.
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- The 11-hour rest gap checked as you fill a shift
- Leave and availability shown before you assign
- A warning past someone’s contracted hours
Questions, answered.
Break lengths, rest between shifts, the 48-hour week and the rules for under-18s.
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How long a break am I entitled to at work?
Under the Working Time Regulations, an adult worker is entitled to an uninterrupted 20-minute rest break when they work more than 6 hours in a day. The break should be during the shift, not at the start or end. Many employers offer more, but 20 minutes is the legal minimum.
Do I get a break on a 6-hour shift?
The statutory break applies when a shift is more than 6 hours. A shift of exactly 6 hours or less carries no legal rest-break requirement, though offering a break is good practice.
How much rest is required between shifts?
Adults are entitled to 11 consecutive hours of rest in each 24-hour period — so normally at least 11 hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next. Young workers under 18 are entitled to 12 hours.
What is the 48-hour working week?
On average, workers should not work more than 48 hours a week, calculated over a 17-week reference period. Adults can choose to opt out in writing. Young workers are limited to 40 hours a week and cannot opt out.
Are the rules different for under-18s?
Yes. Young workers are entitled to a 30-minute break when they work more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest, and are normally limited to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week with no opt-out.
Does the break have to be paid?
The Working Time Regulations don't require rest breaks to be paid — that depends on the contract. This checker looks at whether the break meets the legal minimum length, not whether it's paid.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's plain-English guidance based on the Working Time Regulations 1998 and doesn't cover every exception, such as special shift-work rules, sector agreements or specific opt-outs. Check GOV.UK or ACAS for decisions.
How does Weekola help with rest breaks?
Weekola keeps the rota, hours and rest periods in one place, so rest-break and rest-between-shift problems are easier to spot while you build the schedule — instead of after someone raises it.