Working in the National Health Service (NHS) has always been about serving others, often at a personal cost. NHS staff for years, have had to work through our unpaid breaks on a daily basis. In the NHS it is a requirement to remain accessible during these unpaid breaks, especially when short staffed - which is a daily occurrence. This is absurd when considering we are not allowed to leave the building. Ideally, every member of staff should be allowed to utilise their break time as they deem fit, including taking necessary 'power naps' for mental rejuvenation and overall wellbeing. 

Currently, a full-time NHS staff working a 12.5-hour shift is paid for 11.5 hours only, with an unpaid break of 1 hour. This drives the need for reforms in the break payment policies.

Reforms should include paid breaks and flexibility in how these breaks can be spent. The productivity and efficiency of public service workers, as well as the quality of the services they offer, are correlated to their wellbeing (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2014).

A change is necessary for the sake of the committed NHS professionals who continue to go above and beyond in their commitment to public service, often at their own expense, by working beyond contracted hours. It is time to address these issues for NHS Staff.

Join this call to mandate at least 30 minutes of paid break during each shift. Let’s stand behind our NHS workforce. Sign this petition today.