Rules about the length of breaks employees are entitled to can differ depending on the age of the worker, SMEs have warned.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive explained that the rules, which are detailed in the working time directive, also vary from sector-to-sector.
She said: "The rules on the provision of breaks under the working time directive…differ depending on the age of the worker.
"There are also requirements on breaks across a number of sectors and work activities, for example when working with display screen equipment, working in different environments and if the work is strenuous or repetitive."
Under the working time directive, anyone who works more than six hours a day are entitled to a rest break of at least 20 minutes.
The directive was implemented in to British law in 1998 in the Working Time Regulations Act.
It has since been extended to cover junior doctors and non-mobile workers involved in road, sea and other waterborne forms of transport.
