Meal Breaks for Award Employees

Written on the 15th of June 2012 by Gavin Hanrahan

How long is a meal break for Award Employees?

This article provides a brief update on the status of meal breaks while at work for Award employees.

Under Work Choices there was a statutory entitlement to a 30 minute meal break.  No such entitlement exists under the Fair Work Act.

However, most Modern Awards will provide for meal breaks (some paid, some unpaid). To determine the length of your meal break you really need to check your specific award.

Typically the awards will provide any employee who works more than 5 hours with an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes, which breaks should not be included when calculating an employee's ordinary hours of work.

For further information on meal breaks or any topic associated with Workplace Relations & HR Services, please contact Gavin Hanrahan on 1800 994 279 or email our team.