4 Benefits of Structured Construction Break Times
All workers need to take periodic breaks, especially those in the intense environments of civil engineering and construction. While corporate offices usually have fixed break times for their employees, the uncertain schedules and delays on building sites mean staggered construction break times. Construction workers face challenging conditions that can potentially lead to physical and mental exhaustion without proper rest times.
A construction lunch break goes beyond a mere pause from work to eat and replenish lost energy. It’s more of an opportunity to take some time off from the challenging work environment and reset before returning to work. However, taking breaks without a defined structure can be counterproductive and hinder your project’s performance. At the same time, contractors and construction firms need to abide by the relevant construction break laws in the UK.
In this blog, we explore whether work breaks are required by law and how you can benefit from structured construction break times on your site.
Are Work Breaks Required By Law?
To put it simply, yes, work breaks are required by law. The UK government requires workers working more than six hours a day to have one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break in their workday, whether it’s a tea or lunch break. Additionally, workers have a right to take daily rest and weekly rest, depending on their employment contract.
An employer must give enough breaks to workers working in environments that risk their health and safety and ensure they’re unaffected by their work conditions. This emphasises the importance of having construction site break rooms or worker welfare units for structured worker break times.
The 4 Undisputed Benefits of Structured Construction Break Times
Construction and building sites are challenging working environments with dust, debris, excessive heat, and accident risks, potentially causing mental and physical harm to your workers. Along with structured construction break times, your workers need a space to relax, cool down, and recharge before returning to their tasks. The dedicated spaces in site welfare units can have various positive benefits for your workers and your project. Let’s look at these benefits.
1. Encouraging Good Health
Your on-site workers are essential to the success of your building project, and their health and safety are ultimately your responsibility. Defined and well-structured breaks that maintain on-site productivity allow your workers respite from the difficult work conditions. Without proper space to take construction lunch breaks, your workers may feel stressed, affecting their work and, eventually, their mental and physical well-being.
These effects could lead to members of your workforce having to take time off work indefinitely, delaying tasks and making your project go off track. Hireforce Welfare provides high-quality, towable site welfare units offering a clean and hygienic space for your workers to break for lunch, rest and recharge before returning to work. Our units have worker welfare amenities to make the breaks comfortable and relaxing.
2. Improved Problem-Solving
Project managers and on-site supervisors often face challenging problems on-site. When under pressure to meet deadlines and with the stress of task juggling and problem-solving, it’s easy for managers to skip breaks and keep working. However, research shows that workers who take breaks and engage in relaxation activities undergo less stress and report higher levels of job satisfaction than those who don't.
Taking regular and structured breaks in a construction site break room allows you to rest and recharge, giving you the time and space to solve problems or issues.
3. Encouraging Social Connections
Construction break times arranged in a structured manner can also help your workers connect socially. Breaks in a relaxing and social setup, but not detached or away from the work site, can be particularly beneficial. Your workers can connect with their colleagues, encouraging bonding and fostering a sense of community. Break rooms can work as spaces for workers to support one another and promote worker well-being.
Our site welfare cabins have comfortable seating and amenities to make workers feel comfortable. Let your workforce make the best use of the welfare unit space by adding books, games, and music for a more interactive break area.
4. Boosting Performance
A study has shown that taking lunch breaks can allow your workforce to detach from work, increase energy levels and decrease exhaustion. Regular construction lunch breaks or mini breaks can boost your workforce’s performance and productivity. Short breaks from work help maintain your workers’ performance throughout the day and reduce the need for longer recovery times.
The key is to schedule breaks in advance and stick to them as much as possible. Ensure that the break times of coworkers, supervisors, and managers are appropriately coordinated and that you show when they’re available and when they’re not.
Contact Hireforce for Welfare Units that Double up as Construction Site Break Rooms
Structured construction break times can help support your construction and building site workforce. Taking quality breaks in a quiet, comfortable, safe space away from noise, hazards, and distractions is key to worker well-being in construction.
Hireforce Welfare is a key player in supporting construction firms and contractors in meeting worker welfare needs. Our HSE-compliant range of portable 6 to 16-person Ecosmart cabins featuring comfortable amenities are convenient and robust for any building or demolition project.
Contact us to learn more about our welfare units and how they can provide your workforce with the space to take productive breaks.