Part 2: Why Taking Breaks at Work Matters

As mentioned in the previous article, it is all too common for workers to work through the day without a proper break. But skipping rest doesn’t just hurt your productivity, it can damage your health, safety, and wellbeing. Whether you’re working on-site, in an office, on a zero-hours contract, or remotely from home, taking breaks isn’t a favour from management—it’s a legal right and a priority for trade unions like the Workers of England Union (WEU).

Why You Should Take Breaks, Even Short Ones

Breaks are not just “nice to have”; they are a proven way to keep your performance sharp and your health intact. Research consistently shows that short, regular breaks throughout the day can:

• Improve your concentration and output
• Lower stress and prevent burnout
• Spark creativity and problem-solving
• Protect your physical and mental wellbeing

Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, summed it up well:

“Taking a break isn’t a worker being lazy; it’s essential to a working day. How can a worker perform at their best when feeling exhausted and tired? Working without rest puts safety and wellbeing at risk, but working with scheduled breaks can help the employer achieve much more: higher productivity and improved staff morale.”

Even a brief step away from your workstation—be it a screen, vehicle, or shop floor—can reset your focus. Taking breaks isn’t selfish; it’s how you stay fit to do your job safely and sustainably.

How to Take Short, Effective Breaks – WEU Guidance

Struggling to fit breaks into a busy day? The WEU recommends:

• Schedule Them: Treat breaks like meetings—plan them at the start of your day.
• Watch Your Energy: When your focus dips, pause for 3–5 minutes.
• Try Different Work Patterns: Use 25-minute focus blocks followed by 5-minute breaks. After four cycles, take 15–30 minutes.
• Team Up: Coordinate with colleagues to protect each other’s rest times—solidarity works.
• Use Reminders: Phone alerts or desktop apps can keep breaks on track.
• Track the Benefits: Notice how you feel after breaks—it reinforces the habit.

Quick Break Ideas and Suggestions

• Stretch your neck, shoulders, or legs
• Take a short walk or get some fresh air
• Do a brief breathing or mindfulness exercise
• Hydrate or have a healthy snack
• Engage in a small creative activity: draw, knit, or jot down thoughts
• Chat with a colleague—a quick social break can boost your mood

Your Employment Right to Rest in England

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, every worker has a right to rest, no matter the job title, contract, or employer.

During the Day

• If you work over six hours, you’re entitled to a 20-minute uninterrupted break away from your workstation. This break cannot be at the very start or end of your shift.

Between Working Days

• You must have 11 hours of rest between finishing one working day and starting the next.

During the Week

• You’re entitled to 24 hours of rest every seven days, or 48 hours every 14 days (which can be split into two 24-hour periods).

Additional and Compensatory Breaks

• Employers should offer longer breaks (e.g., lunch hours).
• If you do physically demanding, repetitive, night or high-risk work, or have a disability, you’re entitled to reasonable adjustments, including extra rest.
• If your shift pattern or emergencies prevent normal rest, your employer must provide compensatory rest.

If You’re Not Getting the Breaks You Deserve

Trade union and WEU members should never have to fight for basic rights alone. If you’re being denied breaks:

• Raise the issue with your employer directly or via your WEU rep
• File a grievance through your internal procedures
• Report serious breaches to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local authority
• Make a claim to an employment tribunal—WEU can support you throughout the process

Regular breaks are not a perk; they are an employment right. They protect your safety, support your performance, and foster a healthier, more respectful workplace. Trade unions and the WEU have fought hard to secure these rights—don’t give them up!

Why not try different patterns and see what fits your role, but whatever you do: don’t skip your breaks. You’ve earned them. You need them. And you’re entitled to them.

Related Guides:

• Part 1 – Why Taking a Break Is Important at Work: A WEU Guide
• A Trade Union Guide to Workplace Wellbeing