By Nicky Stibbs | Brightmine editor: Lilia Dangi
This guide summarises workers’ rights to rest breaks and rest periods under the Working Time Regulations 1998. The guide covers daily and weekly rest entitlements, special rules and exceptions, and what workers can do if denied their statutory rights to rest.
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- Who is covered?
- Entitlement to rest breaks and rest periods
- Adult workers
- Young workers
- Employer’s obligation to enable rest breaks
- On-call and working time
- On-call and working time: examples
- Collective and workforce agreements
- Rest breaks for risky work patterns
- Payment for rest breaks
- Record-keeping
- Exclusions and special cases
- Excluded sectors
- Exceptions for mobile workers in road transport sector
- Exceptions for shift workers
- Unmeasured working time
- Other special cases
- Remedies and penalties
- Protection against detriment and unfair dismissal
- Penalties in road transport sector
- Future developments
- Seafarers’ rest breaks and rest periods
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About the author
Nicky Stibbs
Nicky Stibbs has many years’ experience in employment law having worked in the field since 2002. Her experience includes eight years as an associate at Bevan Brittan LLP. She also worked for several years as a senior employment lawyer at a unitary local authority. She has a broad range of experience in defending employers in the employment tribunal, advising employer appeal panels and on day-to-day employee relations, as well as TUPE and organisational change.
Nicky is a freelance writer of employment law articles for law firms. She works for Bevan Brittan LLP as a consultant solicitor and is an associate at Collingridge Employment Law, where she advises SMEs and individuals.
About the author
Lilia Dangi
Legal Editor, Brightmine
Lilia joined the Employment Law and Compliance team as a Legal Editor in March 2025.
Lilia has over 10 years’ experience in HR, with a strong background in employment law, compliance, and governance. She has worked across major organisations including Deloitte, Santander, and Unilever, advising on complex employee relations matters, immigration and change management.
Lilia also brings experience as a CIPD tutor, delivering modules on employment law and workforce planning. She holds a Law degree, a Law Masters in Corporate Governance, and is a certified Company Secretary and CIPD Associate.
Connect with Lilia on LinkedIn.
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