Rules · 1 min read
Breaks and rest between shifts: a plain-English guide
The rest rules that trip up small rotas most often, explained simply, with examples of rotas that break them.
By Maya Chen ·
Sample content. The author is fictional. The advice is general, so check your local rules.
Before you start
Rules differ by country and change over time, so treat this as a starting point and check your local government guidance. The patterns below are the ones that most often catch small rotas out.
Rest between shifts
Many places require a minimum daily rest, often around 11 hours, between finishing one shift and starting the next. The classic mistake is a close at 23:00 followed by an open at 07:00: only 8 hours.
- Close 23:00, open 07:00: too short in many places
- Close 21:00, open 08:30: usually fine
- Close 22:00, start 10:00: fine, and kinder
Breaks during a shift
Shifts over about six hours usually need a break, commonly 20 minutes or more. Build it into the shift so it actually happens, rather than hoping it does.
Weekly rest
Most rules also expect regular full days off, for example one day a week or two days a fortnight. Long runs of days in a row are the easiest thing to spot on a weekly view and the easiest to miss on a spreadsheet.
Young workers
Staff under 18 usually have stricter limits on hours, breaks and late finishes. Mark them on the rota so you see it when you build the week.