A work break is a rest period granted to employees, contributing to effective work performance and maintaining health. In 2025, regulations regarding work breaks will be defined based on the Labor Code. This article provides a detailed overview of employees' rights and obligations, as well as the rules governing work breaks for different work schedules.

Work Breaks: Essential Information

A work break is a rest period that must be provided to employees during working hours. According to the Labor Code, if an employee's daily working time exceeds six hours, they are entitled to at least a 20-minute work break. If the working time exceeds nine hours, an additional 25-minute break is required, resulting in a total of 45 minutes of rest time.

Work Breaks and Working Hours

A crucial question is whether work breaks are included in working hours. According to the Labor Code, work breaks are not part of working hours. This means that employees must remain at their workplace for the full duration of their shift, excluding breaks. For example, in an eight-hour workday, the work break does not count as part of the working time, meaning employees must complete eight hours of actual work, with the break added separately.

Work Breaks in Different Work Schedules

- 8-hour workday: Employees working eight-hour shifts are entitled to at least a 20-minute work break.

- 12-hour shifts: Employees working 12-hour shifts must be granted a total of 45 minutes of work breaks. These breaks can be split, for example, into three 15-minute periods or allocated differently based on the employer’s decision.

- Hourly breaks: Although not required by law, some workplaces provide employees with 5-minute breaks per hour as a common practice. However, this is at the employer’s discretion.
 

Work Breaks and Public Holidays in 2025

In 2025, several public holidays and rescheduled working days will impact work schedules. According to the Ministry of National Economy’s decree, the following changes will occur:

- May 1 (Thursday): The following Friday (May 2) will be a rest day, which must be worked on May 17 (Saturday).

- October 23 (Thursday): The following Friday (October 24) will be a rest day, to be worked on October 18 (Saturday).

- December 24 (Wednesday): This will be a rest day, to be worked on December 13 (Saturday).
 

These rescheduled working days may affect the timing of work breaks, as work schedules shift accordingly.

Work Break Regulations and Labor Code Amendments

Amendments to the Labor Code in 2024 clarified regulations regarding overtime work on public holidays. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to a 100% wage supplement. This regulation remains in effect for 2025, ensuring employees are aware of their rights when working on holidays.

Work Breaks and Employee Rights

Employees have the right to work breaks, and employers are obligated to provide them. The purpose of breaks is to maintain employees' health and ensure efficient work performance. If an employer fails to grant the legally required work breaks, employees have the right to file a complaint and seek legal redress.

Work Breaks and Exemptions from Work

As of 2025, the Labor Code allows employees to be exempted from work for up to 2 hours in specific cases, such as participating in elections or referendums. However, this exemption is not considered a work break but rather a separate entitlement granted to employees.

Work Break Compensation and Regulations

In some workplaces, questions arise regarding whether employees must make up for break time. According to the law, employers cannot require employees to compensate for extended work hours due to breaks. However, some employers may structure working hours so that work breaks are included in paid time.

Key regulations regarding work breaks:

- Employers must provide employees with the legally required breaks.

- Work breaks cannot be arbitrarily denied.

- Employers may decide whether breaks are taken all at once or split into multiple periods.

- Breaks cannot be used to shorten working hours unless a separate agreement is made.

Special Job Roles and Work Break Application

In certain professions, work breaks may operate under different rules, including:

- Shift workers: In industries such as healthcare, logistics, or manufacturing, continuous shifts may prevent fixed break times. The law allows flexibility in scheduling breaks.

- Remote workers and home office employees: Employers must provide work breaks for remote workers, even though they are away from the workplace. However, employer oversight is limited, making employees responsible for taking their breaks.

- On-call and standby roles: For professions requiring standby duties (e.g., firefighters, paramedics), work breaks follow specific regulations. In some cases, breaks cannot be taken all at once but must be spread out over time.
 

Work Breaks and Employee Satisfaction

From an employee’s perspective, ensuring proper work breaks contributes to workplace satisfaction and increased efficiency. Many job seekers evaluate company policies on rest periods when deciding whether to apply. Along with salary, workplace conditions and rest opportunities are significant factors in job acceptance.

Conclusion

In 2025, work breaks will continue to play a crucial role in maintaining employees’ health and well-being. The Labor Code sets clear regulations regarding the duration of breaks, additional rest periods, and how different work schedules must accommodate them.

Employees should be aware of their rights, and if employers fail to provide the legally mandated breaks, employees can seek legal remedies. Ensuring adequate rest periods benefits both employees and employers in the long run, contributing to better work performance and job satisfaction.