Employment Law
From dpa/tmn
February 8, 2024, 2:39 p.m. Reading time: 1 minute
ILLUSTRATION – Work breaks are considered free time. Therefore, you are free to decide how and where you spend the break.
Photo: Christin Klose/dpa-tmn/dpa
Saarbrücken (dpa/tmn) – Burrito or sandwich, going for a walk or closing your eyes for a moment – breaks are not only important during a working day, but are also required by the Working Hours Act. Anke Marx, lawyer at the Saarland Chamber of Labor, explains what you should know about your rest breaks.
1. Duration: Do you work six to nine hours a day? Then you are entitled to a break of 30 minutes according to the Working Hours Act. Anyone who works longer must take a break of 45 minutes. This is just the minimum duration. The employer may also set longer break times. By the way: You don’t have to take the break in one go, you can also divide it into 15-minute blocks.
2. Time: Your employer may dictate when you take a break. However, your interests must be taken into account. And: If he places the break at the beginning or end of your shift, that is not permitted.
3. Ort: Where you relax during your break is entirely up to you. This is your free time, so you can leave work and decide for yourself how and where you spend your break.
4. Payment: Rest breaks are not working time and are therefore not paid. But: If the employer specifies where employees have to spend their break or even issues work instructions during this time, this is not a real rest break, but rather working time. And of course it has to be paid for.
Working Hours Act: Rest breaks
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240208-99-918962/2
2024-02-08 19:38:44
#break #longer #facts #rest #breaks
