Your Right to Meal Breaks

Under the current strain of short staffing across QLD Health Facilities and private facilities,  NPAQ is aware of many members who are not being provided with meal breaks and/or not being paid in circumstances where they should.  

QLD Health Nurses and Midwives:

Meal breaks should be taken between the fourth and sixth hours of duty at an allocated time unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as unexpected clinical or emergent needs or emergency codes.

• Where a meal break is unable to be taken between the fourth and sixth hours inclusive but is provided later in the shift, a penalty payment as for 30 minutes at ordinary time is payable.
• If the meal break is not taken between the fourth and sixth hour, and it is unable to be rescheduled for the remainder of the shift, the employee will be paid as for 30 minutes at the appropriate overtime rate.
• An employee who is directed to remain on the premises during their meal break but is able to take a meal break, will receive a paid 30-minute meal break.

If you are not being provided with meal breaks or the required payment we encourage members to follow up and if unresolved, to refer the matter to Red Union Support via your member dashboard - Support Request.