11-Hour Shift: Break Entitlements
Meal and rest break entitlements for a 11-hour shift under common Australian Modern Awards.
Quick Answer
On an 11-hour shift the General Retail Award gives two unpaid meal breaks plus two 10-minute paid rest breaks. The Clerks Award gives two rest breaks and requires another meal break if you work more than 5 hours after the first. The Hospitality Award gives one meal break of at least 30 minutes plus two 20-minute paid breaks. Hours beyond your award's ordinary hours are overtime.
Meal Break (usually unpaid)
1–2 unpaid meal breaks of 30–60 min, depending on the award
Rest Breaks (paid)
2 x 10 min (paid) — Hospitality 2 x 20 min
Break Entitlements by Award
Break rules vary by Modern Award. Here's what a 11-hour shift looks like under common awards, read from each award's break clause. An enterprise agreement can set different breaks.
| Award | Meal Break | Rest Breaks | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Retail (GRIA) | 2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 16.2 Table 3 |
| Hospitality (HIGA) | 1 x at least 30 min unpaid | 2 x 20 min paid | cl 16.2 Table 2 |
| Fast Food | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 14.1 Table 2 |
| Clerks—Private Sector | 2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 15.2 Table 2 and cl 15.3 |
| Nurses Award 2020 | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 14.1 and cl 14.2 |
| Aged Care | 1 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min paid | cl 24.1 and cl 24.2 |
How Breaks Work in Practice
- •Under the Clerks Award a meal break must come within 5 hours of starting and within 5 hours of returning from a meal break (cl 15.3).
- •The minimum break between shifts depends on your award: 12 hours under the General Retail Award (10 by agreement, cl 16.6), 10 hours under the Hospitality, Nurses and Aged Care awards.
- •Hours beyond the award's daily ordinary hours are overtime — check your award for the rates.
- •Fatigue risk is real — under WHS laws, your employer has a duty to manage it.
What if you don't get your breaks?
If your employer isn't giving you the breaks you're entitled to under your award, that's a breach. Here's what to do.
- Raise it with your manager first — in writing if possible.
- Keep a record of every shift where you were denied a break.
- Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or lodge an online complaint.
- You may be entitled to back pay if you worked through unpaid meal breaks — use our Back Pay Calculator.
Check your exact entitlement
Want to check your specific award and shift? Our Break Compliance Checker matches your shift length against the rules for your award.
Open Break Compliance Checker →Frequently Asked Questions
How many breaks do you get on a 11-hour shift in Australia?
On an 11-hour shift you usually get two 10-minute paid rest breaks and one or two unpaid meal breaks: two meal breaks under the General Retail Award, and under the Clerks Award if you work more than 5 hours after your first one. The Hospitality Award gives one meal break plus two 20-minute paid breaks.
Are breaks paid on a 11-hour shift?
Rest breaks are paid — the clock keeps running. Meal breaks are unpaid under most awards, so the clock stops (under the General Retail Award, shiftworkers' meal breaks are paid too).
Can my employer legally make me work 11 hours?
Only if the hours are reasonable (Fair Work Act s 62) and your award or agreement allows them. You get the breaks your award requires, and overtime rates for hours beyond your ordinary hours.
How much is overtime on an 11-hour shift?
It depends on the award — commonly time-and-a-half for the first 2 or 3 hours of overtime, then double time. Check your award's overtime clause.
Other shift lengths
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