Breaks and rest periods for café staff in Ireland: the 11-hour rule, explained

The 11-hour rule is the daily rest period: Citizens Information says "You have the right to 11 consecutive hours in any 24 hours." So if a shift ends at 8pm, the next one should not start before 7am. The same sources give a 15-minute break once more than 4½ hours have been worked, a 30-minute break once more than 6 hours have been worked, and a weekly rest of 24 consecutive hours in any 7 days. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) says payment for breaks is not a statutory entitlement. The rules are in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, and staff under 18 have separate, stricter ones.

What is the 11-hour rule in Ireland?

It is the right to a daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours in every 24. The WRC lists it among employee entitlements: "A daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24 hour period".

Citizens Information gives the example: "if you finish work at 8pm, you should not start work again until 7am the next day." It defines a rest period as "any time that is not working time". For a café, this matters most when a late close is followed by an early open. A closer who finishes at 11pm should not be on the rota to open at 8am, because that is only 9 hours.

What breaks must café staff get during a shift?

A 15-minute break once they have worked more than 4½ hours, and a 30-minute break once they have worked more than 6 hours. Citizens Information says the 30-minute break "can include the first 15-minute break", and that "The break should not be at the end of the working day."

Citizens Information gives a worked example. Someone who starts at 7am is entitled to a 15-minute break at 11.30am. At 1.15pm, after 6 hours, they are entitled to a 30-minute break, and as they have already taken one break, the employer can limit this one to 15 minutes. If they start again at 1.30pm or 1.45pm and work until 6 or 6.15pm, they are entitled to another 15-minute break.

Are the breaks paid? Citizens Information says: "You have no legal right to be paid for these breaks and they are not considered working time. Whether you are paid for them depends on your employment contract." The WRC says: "Payment for breaks is not a statutory entitlement."

Citizens Information also says special rules apply to shop workers who work more than 6 hours including 11.30am to 2.30pm: a one-hour consecutive break between those times. The sources I read do not say whether a café counts as a shop for this, so check with the WRC.

How much weekly rest do café staff get?

24 consecutive hours in any 7 days, following a daily rest period. Citizens Information says this "should be a Sunday, unless your contract says something different".

It gives an alternative: two 24-hour rest periods in a week "if it follows a week, in which you did not get any 24-hour rest periods", which should include a Sunday unless the contract says otherwise. Citizens Information describes weekly rest as whole days when you do not come into work, usually called days off.

What is the maximum working week in Ireland?

48 hours on average. The WRC says: "The maximum number of hours that an employee should work in an average working week is 48 hours. This working week average should be calculated over a 4-month period."

Citizens Information says a working week can be more than 48 hours, because "it is the average that is important". The WRC says averaging can be over 6 months where work is subject to seasonality or a foreseeable surge in activity, and over 12 months where a collective agreement is approved by the Labour Court. Citizens Information lists "tourism" peak periods under the 6-month reference period. It says the 48 hours do not include time on annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave and similar leave.

What about Sunday work?

If the rate of pay does not already cover it, an employee is generally entitled to a premium payment or paid time off in lieu. The WRC says: "If not already included in the rate of pay, an employee is generally entitled to paid time off in lieu or a premium payment for Sunday working."

It says the premium can be an allowance, an increased rate of pay, paid time off, or a combination. Citizens Information says that if you and your employer have not agreed extra pay, the employer must give a reasonable allowance, a reasonable pay increase or reasonable paid time off, and that what is reasonable "depends on the situation". Both point to the WRC's Code of Practice on Sunday Working in the Retail Trade. For the hourly rates themselves, see our article on the minimum wage for café staff in 2026.

What are the rules for café staff under 18?

The rest rules are stricter. The WRC says under 16s must be given a 30-minute break after working 4 hours, a break of 14 hours in every 24, and 2 days off in every 7. Young persons aged 16 and 17 must be given a 30-minute break after working 4½ hours, 12 hours off in every 24 and 2 days off in every 7 days.

Citizens Information says the 2 days off should be consecutive if possible, and that the rules do not apply if you are employed by a close relative. The WRC also sets limits on hours: under 16s cannot start before 8.00 a.m. or work beyond 8.00 p.m., and 16 and 17 year olds cannot start before 6.00 a.m. and must finish at 10.00 p.m. before a school day. Work past 10.00 p.m. is subject to Ministerial approval by regulation. For licensed premises the WRC points to a separate Code of Practice.

Are there exceptions to the break and rest rules?

Yes. Citizens Information says the rules do not apply to some workers, including the Gardaí, the Defence Forces on certain duties, employees who control their own working hours, family employees on farms or in private homes, people in transport activities and fishermen.

For everyone else it lists cases where normal breaks may not apply: exceptional circumstances such as an emergency or accident, a collective agreement changing rest periods (approved by the Labour Court, or under an Employment Regulation Order or Registered Employment Agreement), and shift work in certain circumstances, such as split or changing shifts. In these cases you are entitled to compensatory rest, "a rest period taken later, if possible before the end of the day".

The rules at a glance

Break or rest	The rule	Source
Short break	15 minutes after more than 4½ hours	Citizens Information; WRC
Long break	30 minutes after more than 6 hours, can include the first	Citizens Information; WRC
Daily rest	11 consecutive hours in any 24	Citizens Information; WRC
Weekly rest	24 consecutive hours in any 7 days, after a daily rest	Citizens Information; WRC
Working week	48 hours on average, over 4 months generally	WRC; Citizens Information
Under 16	30-minute break after 4 hours; 14 hours off in 24; 2 days off in 7	WRC
Aged 16 and 17	30-minute break after 4½ hours; 12 hours off in 24; 2 days off in 7	WRC

Sources

• Citizens Information, Work breaks and rest periods, page edited 27 January 2025, read 13 October 2026.
• Citizens Information, Working hours, page edited 27 January 2025, read 13 October 2026.
• Workplace Relations Commission, Working Hours, read 13 October 2026.
• Workplace Relations Commission, Sunday Premium Entitlement, read 13 October 2026.
• Workplace Relations Commission, Employment of Children and Young Persons, read 13 October 2026.

This is a summary of public guidance read 13 October 2026, not legal advice. The Workplace Relations Commission has the final word. Cupán Studio builds websites for cafés in Ireland.