Managing Breaks in S4 Labour

Accurate break management is essential for compliance, payroll accuracy, and operational efficiency. S4 Labour provides two flexible methods for handling employee breaks:

• Automatic Break Deductions
• Manual Breaks via Split Shifts

This guide explains how each method works, what to expect, and how managers can maintain accurate shift data.

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⚙️ Automatic Break Deductions

Automatic breaks simplify scheduling and help ensure compliance with working time regulations. When enabled, S4 Labour will automatically deduct a break from any shift that exceeds a specified duration (typically 6 hours or more).

✅ How It Works

• A 20- or 30-minute break (based on your site’s setup) is automatically deducted from qualifying shifts.
• Employees do not need to tap out/in for these breaks.
• The rota page displays the full shift time, but the worked hours and cost reflect the deduction.
• The deduction is applied regardless of whether the break was actually taken.

💡 Note: The system assumes the break was taken. It does not track actual break activity.

⚠️ Manager Responsibilities

If the break was not taken or varied in length, managers must manually adjust the shift:

• Break not taken? Add the deducted time back to the shift.
• Longer break taken? Reduce the shift duration accordingly.

⏱️ Example: 20-Minute Break After 6 Hours

• Shift: 10:00–15:59 → No break deducted.
• Shift: 10:00–16:00 → 20-minute break automatically deducted.

🔧 Customisation Tip: Each site can configure up to three automatic break rules, such as:

• After 6 hours: 20-minute break
• After 8 hours: 30-minute break
• After 12 hours: 1-hour break

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✋ Manual Breaks Using Split Shifts

Manual breaks offer greater control and visibility, especially when break durations vary or need to be tracked precisely.

✅ How It Works

• Employees tap out and back in when taking a break.
• This creates two separate shift entries on the sign-off sheet.
• Managers must confirm both parts of the shift during T&A sign-off.
• Confirmed hours (excluding the break) are reflected on the rota and used for payroll.

📌 Why Use Manual Breaks?

• Ideal for flexible break environments.
• Ensures accurate tracking of actual break durations.
• Helps managers verify and adjust shift data as needed.

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🔍 Choosing the Right Method

Method	Best For	Employee Action	Manager Action
Automatic	Consistent break policies	None	Manual adjustment if needed
Manual (Split)	Variable or tracked break times	Tap out/in for breaks	Confirm both shift parts

 

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🛠️ Need Help Setting Up Breaks?

Whether you want to enable automatic deductions or switch to manual tracking, our team can help configure your site’s break settings.

📞 Contact Us: Let us know your preferred break duration and method, and we’ll tailor the setup to your needs.