I work part-time at the local hospital, doing four-hour shifts. Should I be entitled to a ten-minute break during this period?
As far as the law is concerned, adults become entitled to a 20 minute break once they have worked longer than six hours. Workers aged 17 or under are entitled to a 30-minute break after working for 4½ hours. So you will only be entitled to a break in your four-hour shift if your employment contract says so. It would no doubt be unreasonable however for an employer to deny you a “comfort” break. If you work at a computer screen the rules are slightly different.