Articles on: Breaks

Get started with breaks and compliance

Working with Breaks and Compliance



With the new version of EasyTeam, get ready to take your workforce management to the next level! Introducing our new breaks Breaks module for full end-to-end management of breaks, unpaid time and compliance.


The Breaks module makes store management easier with seamless connection to your existing time clock, timesheets, schedules, and payroll data in EasyTeam.
Here's how it works:

Main features



Customize your break policy:
Set up different types of breaks (Paid, unpaid, mandatory – you name it! )
Let staff members easily clock in and out for breaks
Keep an eye on break compliance (no more missed lunch breaks! )
Automatically calculate work hours with break times factored in
Include break data in your payroll exports
Assign different break policies to each location
Full customization of break policies to fit your business needs
And more...

Setting Up Break Types



To start working with breaks, head over to the Time tracking & breaks settings page to define your break types.
Configure your break type with a name, a duration, a pay type and a few other options, assign it to the relevant locations and hit Save.





To read more about the different options in the break settings, read How to create break policies and assign them to staff?

Remember, you can always edit or delete these break types later.


Take a break on Shopify POS



Staff members can now catch a breather right from the Shopify POS.

Simply tap the time clock tile on the main screen of your Shopify POS, just like you would do when clocking in.
You'll see your current time worked today and have an option to take a break.

Staff will be able to take a break on the clock-in/out tile

This opens up a list of available break types as set by the break policies above.

Tip - Double check your break type is assigned to the correct location, or assign it to 'All Locations'.

The staff member will now see the status of his break and its end time. They will have to clock back in on the same screen to get back to their shift.



As a manager, you'll be able to know if the staff member took their entire break time, ended it early, or clocked back in later than the break allowed.


Managing break data in Timesheets



Retail operations are always changing: Ever had a staff member forget to clock out for lunch? Or maybe someone took an impromptu break during the rush hour? With EasyTeam you'll be able to fix all timesheets in a few clicks.

On the Timesheets screen, navigate to a staff member's timesheets, find the offending time card entry and click to edit it.

Alerts will be shown next to mandatory breaks that require your attention.

You'll be able to add missing breaks, delete wrong breaks and edit the start or end time.


Integrating Breaks with Schedules



One of the most powerful features of our breaks module is the ability to control what breaks are allowed when planning your work schedule.




When creating a shift on the Schedules screen you can now decide what break types are allowed for each shift. This allows for maximum flexibility on a per-shift basis.

Designate break types as Default on the settings page to make them available on all scheduled shifts.

Tip - When moving or duplicating shifts, their allowed break settings will be copied as well.


Breaks and compliance for Payroll



Exporting your timesheet data will now include a comprehensive summary of all breaks and their durations.

EasyTeam will handle the calculations of your various paid, unpaid, and mandatory breaks to make payroll runs easy and seamless.




For compliance with your local HR and labor laws, see this section of the time tracking Settings page:




These options allow you to manage how unpaid time, excess break time, and missed breaks are handled by the timesheets. Make sure to select the settings that make the most sense for your store.


Best Practices for Break Management



For a basic overview of setting up break types, see How to create break policies and assign them to staff?

Here are a few tips for more advanced break and compliance configurations:

Leverage mandatory breaks: Smart use of the mandatory break feature can help you stay compliant with labor laws and ensure staff member well-being. Use the "Display warnings for missed breaks on Schedule and Timesheets" option and set some of your break types as 'mandatory'.

Customize break types by location: Take advantage of location-specific break assignments. If you have stores in different areas with varying labor laws or operational needs, create unique break types for each location. Some retailers opt for multiple short breaks, while others prefer a single long break.

If a staff member takes longer than their allotted paid break time, you can choose to automatically convert the excess time to unpaid. Select this option from the settings page if it aligns with your local regulations.


Break Time's Over - Time to Get Started!



A well-managed break system isn't just good for business – it's good for the whole team. Check out and experiment with the different features and customize the plan to your business.
Need help with configuring breaks? 📞 Schedule a free setup call with our onboarding team and we'll be happy to assist you on a video call, at no charge!


If you have questions or need help setting up, don't hesitate to reach out. You can find the chat bubble in the bottom right corner ❤️

Updated on: 04/08/2024