Breaks

In NateoTime there are three types of breaks, which can be freely combined:

1. Manual Breaks (Clock Out/Clock In): When an employee takes a break, they clock out of “Work” (which also stops all other activities). When returning, they clock back into the relevant activities.
2. Fixed Breaks: Each employee can define up to two fixed break times per day. These are automatically deducted without clocking out. The employee simply takes their break while all activities remain active.
3. Mandatory Breaks (Legal Requirement): Admins can assign up to two mandatory breaks per employee. These are also deducted automatically, without the need to clock out.

These break types can be combined. For example, if someone clocks out outside their fixed break time, the manual break is added on top of the fixed break. If a manual break overlaps with a fixed break, it only counts once. This way, employees can extend a fixed break simply by clocking out.

Mandatory breaks are only deducted to the extent needed to meet the legal minimum, after accounting for fixed and manual breaks.

 

Example

Monday

Bob chooses to track breaks only by clocking in and out. He does not use fixed breaks or mandatory break deduction.

• 8:00 a.m.: clocks in to Work
• 10:00 a.m.: clocks out
• 10:15 a.m.: clocks in
• 4:00 p.m.: clocks out

Result: 7:45 hours worked, 15 minutes break. The legal minimum break was not met.

 

Tuesday

Bob enables mandatory break deduction.

• 8:00 a.m.: clocks in
• 10:00 a.m.: clocks out (break)
• 10:15 a.m.: clocks in
• 11:00 a.m.: clocks out (quick break to do a call)
• 11:04 a.m.: clocks in
• 4:30 p.m.: clocks out

Bob worked more than 6 hours. The minimum required break is 30 minutes. He already took a 15-minute break at 10:00.
The 4 minutes at 11:00 don’t count because mandatory breaks must be in blocks of at least 15 minutes.
NateoTime therefore deducts an additional 15 minutes to meet the 30-minute legal minimum.

Official result: 7:56 hours worked, 34 minutes break.

 

Wednesday

Bob adds a daily fixed break from 10:00 to 10:30, while keeping mandatory break deduction active.

• 8:00 a.m.: clocks in
• 10:20 a.m.: clocks out
• 10:40 a.m.: clocks in
• 6:00 p.m.: clocks out

Bob worked more than 9 hours. The minimum required break is 45 minutes.

His manual break (10:20–10:40) overlaps with his fixed break (10:00–10:30), giving him a total of 40 minutes break. This satisfies the 30-minute rule for >6h, but falls 5 minutes short of the 45-minute rule for >9h.
NateoTime therefore deducts another 5 minutes from his work time as break time.

Official result: 9:15 hours worked, 45 minutes break.

 

Important

Break calculation vs. actual breaks

Regardless of whether breaks are manual, fixed, or mandatory: NateoTime cannot verify whether employees actually took their breaks.

The system is designed to reduce effort for employees who follow the legally required or agreed break rules.

Employees must understand these rules and coordinate with their supervisors. When that’s in place, they can work compliantly without having to clock every break—they can simply leave activities running.

 

Additional Notes

Employees can decide how they want to record breaks. They can change their setting in the time tracking screen at any time.

Admins define mandatory break rules for each employee in the Work contract. These rules may vary by employee (e.g., different legal requirements for minors vs. adults).