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BREAK PLANNING

Plan meal & rest breaks without breaking coverage

Put breaks inside the roster builder so coverage never suffers. Add meal and rest breaks to each shift, stagger them to maintain service levels, and publish with confidence knowing your Fair Work break rules and internal policies are respected.

  • Break rules and warnings built in

  • See headcount while planning to avoid downtime

  • Add/stagger breaks as you schedule

No credit card required
4.8 stars, 1570 ratings

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ACCURATE BREAK TRACKING

How break planning works

RosterElf makes it simple to plan, record, and stay compliant with break requirements — keeping payroll and Fair Work rules accurate every time.

Set break rules by role

Set break rules by role

Define unpaid and paid break lengths directly in your roster settings. You can customise break times by role, award, or site to meet Fair Work requirements.

Track breaks in real time

Track breaks in real time

When staff clock in and out for breaks using the Time Clock or mobile app, RosterElf automatically records the exact duration and applies your rules.

Sync breaks to payroll

Sync breaks to payroll

Break data flows directly into digital timesheets and payroll integrations — ensuring accurate hours, clean records, and zero manual edits.

IN‑ROSTER BREAKS

Break planning in the roster builder

Shift‑Level Breaks

Add meal & rest breaks with a click

Plan breaks at the same time you plan shifts. Add one or more break blocks (paid or unpaid), set durations, and duplicate across days with Copy Last Week or templates.

Breaks stay attached to the shift, so managers and staff see exactly when to go on break—right from the roster.

See full Employee Rostering features →
COVERAGE

Stagger breaks to keep service levels high

Coverage Assist

See headcount by time and avoid gaps

Use the coverage view to see how many people are on the floor at any moment. Stagger breaks to smooth peaks, and if a gap appears, post an Open Shift or use Perfect Match™ AI to suggest the best replacement.

Built‑in warnings flag risky patterns (e.g., too many people on break at once) before you publish.

See full Employee Rostering features →
COMPLIANCE

Award‑aware break rules and alerts

Fair Work Guardrails

Build schedules that pass compliance checks

Configure your break rules by role/site—minimum break lengths, timing windows, rest between shifts and more.

RosterElf checks suggestions and edits against these rules and surfaces real‑time warnings (missing/short breaks, back‑to‑back issues), helping you publish break‑safe rosters with confidence.

Check out our Payroll Integrations →

CAPTURE & AUDIT

Track breaks exactly as they happen

Time & Attendance

Compare scheduled vs recorded breaks

When staff clock in/out for breaks on mobile, scheduled vs actual is captured on the timesheet. 


Exceptions are highlighted for manager review before export to payroll—keeping your records accurate and your team accountable without manual reconciliation.



Key benefits

6 reasons accurate break tracking matters

Stay Fair Work compliant

Stay Fair Work compliant

Built-in break rules help you meet award requirements automatically, reducing the risk of underpayment or breaches.

Capture real break times

Capture real break times

Staff clock in and out of breaks through the Time Clock or mobile app, ensuring actual break durations — not estimates — are recorded.

Keep payroll accurate

Keep payroll accurate

Break data flows straight into timesheets and payroll integrations, so paid and unpaid breaks are always calculated correctly.

Improve transparency

Improve transparency

Managers can see who’s on break in real time, helping maintain coverage and accountability across the team.

Reduce manual admin

Reduce manual admin

No need for paper logs or manual adjustments — RosterElf handles recording and syncing automatically.

Create fairer workplaces

Create fairer workplaces

Consistent break tracking helps ensure every team member gets their required rest time, boosting morale and compliance.

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4.8 stars by 1570 users
100+ countries
30,000+ users