Mandatory Breaks In Ontario: What You Need To Know

Running a business in Ontario? You've got enough on your plate. Let's make sure you're up to speed on mandatory breaks under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”).

Rest and Meal Breaks

The ESA is clear: If your employees work more than five consecutive hours, they are entitled to a 30-minute break. You can't skip it unless you want to risk non-compliance. The break is unpaid unless you require the employee to do any form of work during that time. For example, if an employee remains “on call” or at their desk during their break, they must be compensated for it.

Want to split that 30-minute break into smaller chunks? You can do that, but only if you and the employee agree. It's a common practice to break the 30 minutes into two 15-minute breaks but remember that the full 30 minutes must still be provided within that same five-hour window.