Start with the usual rules, then check exceptions
GOV.UK describes the usual adult entitlement as one uninterrupted 20-minute break when working more than six hours, 11 hours of daily rest, and either 24 hours of weekly rest or 48 hours over a fortnight. Whether a break is paid depends on the employment contract.
Workers above school-leaving age and under 18 usually have stronger rights: a 30-minute break when working more than four and a half hours, 12 hours of daily rest and 48 hours of weekly rest. Exceptions and particular occupations need separate checking.
A scheduled deduction is not evidence of a break
Ask whether the worker could actually take the break. A deduction in a timesheet does not establish that they did. Check missed or interrupted breaks and correct the record through your review process.
CrewLoca supports planned or recorded unpaid breaks. Check the applicable method and final deduction; do not add a recorded break on top of the same planned break. Paid breaks should not be entered as unpaid time.
Review the working pattern as well as one shift
Rest between shifts, weekly rest and working-time limits need a wider view than a daily total. Consider the contract, age, working pattern, sector and applicable rules. Do not treat a green timesheet status as a compliance decision.
Keep the policy understandable
Explain how breaks are taken, recorded and corrected, who reviews issues and where workers can ask for help. Apply the correct rules for your jurisdiction; Northern Ireland and particular sectors may require different guidance. This is a starting point, not tailored legal advice.
Common questions
Is the usual 20-minute break automatically unpaid?
No. Whether a break is paid depends on the employment contract. Recording software should follow the agreed paid/unpaid treatment rather than decide it.
Does CrewLoca guarantee Working Time Regulations compliance?
No. Employers remain responsible for the working arrangements and applicable law. Recording and reviewing hours can support that process but cannot certify it.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed 1 November 2026. Check current official guidance for your situation.