Lunch and coffee breaks

Meal breaks last 0.5 – 1 hour per day, during the period from 12:00 to 14:00. Those who work at least 5 hours during daytime working hours are entitled to this meal break. This break is not considered working time and is therefore unpaid.

Coffee breaks for shop assistants amount to 35 minutes per day, based on full-time work during daytime hours. Daytime working hours for shop assistants, according to the collective agreement, are between 09:00 and 18:00.The coffee break is considered working time and therefore paid.
Coffee breaks may be shortened or omitted by agreement at the workplace. In such cases, working hours shall be reduced accordingly, without any reduction in wages.Those who work part-time are entitled to a proportional coffee break.

Below is a table showing staff presence during shop assistants' daytime working hours and their entitlement to coffee breaks.

Note: If work is performed during meal or coffee breaks within the daytime working period, fully or in part, it shall be compensated for either the evening rate or the overtime rate, as applicable.

Meal and Coffee Breaks Outside Daytime Working Hours

Dinner break is from 19:00 to 20:00 every day.

If an employee works 4.5 hours or more, they are entitled to a dinner break. This break is considered working time and is paid as overtime or evening pay, as applicable. 
If the employee does not receive this break and that time is worked (in full or in part), the time shall be paid as overtime.

Example: If work continues until 19:10, 10 minutes are paid at evening/overtime rate due to work until 19:10. An additional 10 minutes is paid as overtime for the missed dinner break.

The following meal/coffee breaks are considered working time, and if work is performed during them, equivalent extra overtime shall be paid:

Evening coffee: 22:00 to 22:20. On December 23rd (Þorláksmessa), a 20-minute break may be given between 21:40 and 22:20.
Meal break: 03:00 to 04:00
Coffee break: 06:15 to 06:30

Work starts at 16:00 or later

Shop assistants who start work at 16:00 or later shall be paid 5 minutes per hour worked, with a minimum of 15 minutes, as compensation for missed breaks
If an employee works 4.5 hours or more, they are instead entitled to a full 1-hour dinner break.

If an employee works during meal or coffee breaks within daytime hours, this time shall be paid as overtime/evening pay or compensated with a shorter workday, without reducing wages.

All the above also applies to meal and coffee breaks when working on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Meal breaks last 0.5 – 1 hour per day, during the period from 12:00 to 14:00. Those who work at least 5 hours during daytime working hours are entitled to this break. It is not considered working time and therefore unpaid.

Coffee breaks for office and sales staff are 15 minutes per day, based on full-time daytime work.This time is considered working time and therefore paid. Coffee breaks may be shortened or omitted by agreement at the workplace. In such cases, working hours shall be reduced accordingly, without any reduction in wages.
Those who work part-time are entitled to a proportional coffee break.

Below is a table showing the daytime working hours of office and sales staff and their entitlement to breaks.

Note: If work is performed during meal or coffee breaks within the daytime working period, fully or in part, it shall be compensated for either the evening rate or the overtime rate, as applicable.

Meal and Coffee Breaks Outside Daytime Working Hours

Dinner breaks are from 19:00 to 20:00 every day. This time is considered working time and paid as overtime or evening pay, as applicable. If the employee does not receive this break and the time is worked (in full or in part), corresponding overtime shall be paid.

Example: If work continues until 19:10, 10 minutes are paid at evening/overtime rate due to work until 19:10. An additional 10 minutes is paid as overtime for the missed dinner break.

The following breaks are considered working hours, and if work is performed during them, equivalent extra overtime shall be paid:

Evening coffee: 22:00 to 22:20
Meal break: 03:00 to 04:00
Coffee break: 06:15 to 06:30

If an employee works during meal or coffee breaks within daytime hours, the time shall be paid as overtime/evening pay or compensated with a shorter workday, without reducing wages.

All of the above also applies to meal and coffee breaks when working on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Breaks shall amount to 5 minutes per hour worked and be scheduled by agreement between the employee and employer.

Lunch breaks are considered working time for this group and are not deducted from working time as they are for shop and office workers.

Breaks should generally be taken as 15-minute continuous breaks.

Example: For a 12-hour shift, the employee is entitled to 55 minutes of paid break time, typically taken as 15-minute blocks in consultation with a supervisor.

For a 6-hour shift, the employee is entitled to 25 minutes of paid break time, also taken in 15-minute blocks where possible.

Work during break times shall be paid for at overtime rates or compensated with a shorter workday accordingly.

Employees are entitled to at least a 0.5-hour break per day, unless otherwise agreed.

The daily break period may not exceed 1 hour, unless the working day exceeds 8 hours. In that case, the break may be up to 1.5 hours.
On days when the working day ends before 14:00, it is permitted to agree that no break is taken.

Dinner break shall be between 19:00 and 20:00 and is paid at overtime rates.
If the break is worked in full or in part, 1 hour of additional pay shall be provided, regardless of the duration worked.

If night work is performed as overtime, a meal break shall be given from 03:00 to 04:00.