Meal Breaks & Rest Pauses
Knowing when to take a break is vital for compliance and fatigue management. The Award distinguishes between unpaid meal breaks and paid tea breaks.
Quick Facts
- Meal Break
- 30-60 mins (Unpaid)
- Tea Break
- 10 mins (Paid)
- Occurrence
- Meal break after 5 hours work
Tools & Resources
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SCHADS AI Assistant
Get instant answers to award questions.
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Timesheet Validator
Check timesheets for compliance.
The 5-Hour Rule
An employee must not work more than **5 hours** without an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes. If they are required to work through this break, they must be paid **overtime rates** until the break is taken.
Rest Pauses (Tea Breaks)
Employees working 4 hours or more are usually entitled to a paid 10-minute tea break. This counts as time worked.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I eat lunch with my client?
- If you are required to eat with a client (e.g. as part of social support), this is considered working time and must be paid (it is not an unpaid break).
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