Working hours and breaks in the hospitality cao: what do you need to know?

Working in the hotel industry (or hospitality in general) is usually not a 9-to-5 job. Hotels are open 24 hours a day and guests may need service at all kinds of times. That’s why you often have irregular working hours: early mornings, evenings, weekends and sometimes night shifts are all part of it. In this article we explain what the hospitality collective labor agreement (collective labor agreement for the hospitality industry) says about your working hours and breaks. You’ll read how many hours you’re allowed to work per week. Also what your normal working and rest times are in a hotel. When work counts as evening or night work. Which breaks you should get and whether they are paid. What the difference is between a break and rest time. And which exceptions apply during busy periods or events. For this article we assume you are 18 years or older. For employees younger than 18, stricter rules apply.

Maximum working hours per week according to the hospitality cao

The hospitality collective labor agreement aligns with the Working Hours Act when it comes to how many hours you are allowed to work at most. In principle, a full-time working week in the hospitality collective labor agreement averages 38 hours (which comes down to 1,976 hours per year). This is the number of hours your contract is usually based on. Still, in busy weeks you may work more hours, but only up to a certain limit.

Period limits: Per shift you may work a maximum of 12 hours, and in one week no more than 60 hours in total. These are truly the absolute limits for exceptional situations. You can’t work such long hours every week, because strict average limits apply over longer periods:

Over 4 weeks you may work an average of up to 55 hours per week.
Over 16 weeks you may work an average of up to 48 hours per week.

In other words: a one-off peak week of 60 hours is possible, as long as it is compensated later with quieter weeks so that on average you stay under 48 hours per week. Structurally working 60 hours all the time is not allowed, because then you would exceed those averages.

Plus and minus hours: In busy periods you may work more and in quiet periods less, as long as the average matches your contract. This is often calculated per calendar year or vacation year. At the end they check whether you have extra hours or minus hours. Extra hours are paid out or given as leave. Minus hours are usually not deducted, unless it’s due to you. For details see also ‘Exceptions during busy times’.

Working hours in a hotel: day, evening and night

Hotels are open 24/7, so working hours differ from an office job. There are early (7:00-15:00), late (15:00-23:00) and night shifts (23:00-7:00). Weekend work is normal, because guests also stay on weekends. In the hospitality collective labor agreement there is no fixed number of free Sundays. However, you only work on 40 or more Sundays in each period of 52 consecutive weeks if you have agreed to this on a case-by-case basis.

Evening work is roughly from 18:00/19:00 to 00:00 and is part of irregular work; there is no separate allowance for it. Night work is, according to the law, work between 00:00 and 06:00. A shift from 22:00 to 07:00 therefore counts as a night shift. For night shifts, extra rest rules apply and sometimes an allowance, depending on your role.

Irregular hours are all hours outside standard office hours, such as evenings, nights, early mornings, weekends and holidays. There is usually no statutory allowance; that depends on the collective labor agreement or agreements with your employer. In the hospitality collective labor agreement, only hotel reception and night shifts receive a 10% allowance between 00:00 and 06:00. If you work at night in a restaurant or café, you do not receive this, unless your employer offers it additionally.

According to the hospitality collective labor agreement, your schedule with working hours must be known at least 3 weeks in advance. That way you know in time when you need to work and you can also take evening and weekend shifts into account in your private planning. Try to check your schedule as early as possible and indicate any preferences (for example, an evening off) to your employer in time.

Breaks during your work

During a long workday in hospitality you are entitled to a break. After all, you can’t keep serving guests, cooking or cleaning endlessly without taking a breather. The collective labor agreement (and the law) sets out how much break time you must at least get if you work for a certain time in a row. The rules are as follows for adults (18+):

Do you work longer than 5.5 hours in a row? Then you are entitled to at least 30 minutes of break during your shift. This is often seen as a lunch or dinner break. In consultation with your employer you may split that half-hour break into two quarter-hours if that works better.
Do you work longer than 10 hours in a day? Then you are entitled to a total of 45 minutes of break. You may also split this break or these breaks, for example into three times 15 minutes or half an hour plus a quarter-hour.

These breaks are there to rest for a moment, to eat or drink, and for example to go to the toilet or briefly stretch your legs. Your employer may not make you work through without a break if you work that long; it is a right you must be able to use. Do coordinate well about when you take the break, especially in busy hospitality environments: often you take a break as soon as the work allows it (for example after the lunch rush or before dinner starts). But the employer must ensure that breaks can be scheduled, even on busy days.

Is your break paid?

Usually not. Breaks of 15 minutes or longer are not paid, because you are not working then. Short interruptions shorter than 15 minutes (for example, grabbing a drink of water) do count as working time. Statutory breaks of 30 or 45 minutes during long shifts are mandatory, but unpaid. Extra coffee or smoke breaks are not a right, but are often allowed.

Example:
You work from 14:00 to 22:00 in a hotel/restaurant. You take a 20-minute break to eat and later another 10 minutes to drink something. Together that is 30 minutes. This time is not paid, so you effectively work 7.5 hours. A short 5-minute drink break does count as working time.

What is the difference between a break and rest time?

A break is a short interruption during your working day, such as a lunch or coffee break. Rest time is the longer period between two shifts, such as your night or weekend. Breaks usually last from minutes up to an hour and help you get through the day. Rest time lasts hours or days and is meant for real recovery.

According to the law and the hospitality collective labor agreement, you have at least 11 hours of rest between two shifts. In every 7 days you are entitled to 36 consecutive hours off, often your weekend or a day off.

Example:
If you work until 23:00, then you must be off at least until 10:00 the next morning. That way you start the next shift well-rested.

How long can you work in a row?

A shift may last a maximum of 12 hours. Working longer is not allowed, not even when it’s busy. Shifts usually last 8 hours. Between two shifts there must be at least 11 hours of rest. If you work until midnight, you may therefore only start again after 11:00 the next day.

In addition, you are entitled to 36 consecutive hours of rest per week, usually one day off plus extra morning/afternoon. In exceptional cases this may be spread over two weeks: then you must have at least 72 hours off in that period.

Example:
During a major event your boss asks if you can work 10 days in a row. That is only allowed if you then get at least 3 days off and you still have 11 hours of rest between shifts each time.

Minimum rest between shifts

Between two shifts you must have at least 11 hours of rest. If your shift ends at 21:00, you may only start again from 08:00.

Exception:
Once per week this may be shorter, at least 8 hours, but only in emergency situations or exceptional busy periods. After that, the normal 11 hours applies again.

Night work:
If you work after 02:00 at night, you are entitled to 14 hours of rest. After multiple night shifts you often get a longer break, for example 46 hours after 3 night shifts. You may work a maximum of 7 night shifts in a row and no more than 140 per year.

Exceptions during busy times or events

During peak periods such as holidays, conferences or summer peaks the basic rules still apply, but there are a few exceptions:

Shorter rest: Once per week the 11 hours of rest may be shortened to 8 hours, but only if there truly is no other option. After that, the normal rest applies again.
Working more hours: In busy weeks you may temporarily work more than your contract (maximum 48 hours on average over 16 weeks). Extra hours must be compensated in time off or paid out.
Shifting rest: The weekly rest of 36 hours may sometimes be shifted to 72 hours over two weeks. This way you can temporarily work longer and then get a block of time off.

This flexibility is intended for exceptions, not as a standard schedule.

Overtime and extra compensation: Want to know more about what the collective labor agreement says regarding overtime and payments for it? Then take a look at this article about overtime and compensation in hospitality. It explains when overtime applies and in which ways you should be compensated (for example paying out extra hours or time-off-in-lieu hours). It’s good to be aware of that too, especially in busy seasons.

Conclusion

The hospitality collective labor agreement provides clear rules for working hours and breaks. You work an average of 38 hours per week, sometimes with peaks up to 60 hours. Between shifts you must have at least 11 hours of rest and each week one block of 36 hours off.

For shifts longer than 5.5 hours you are entitled to 30 minutes of break; for more than 10 hours that is 45 minutes. Breaks are usually unpaid. Night work happens, but is limited and can give a 10% allowance for certain roles.

During busy times there is some flexibility, but the basic rules for maximum working time and minimum rest still apply. That way you are protected and you know what to expect.

This article has been reviewed by:

Sander (A.J.C.) Theunissen
Employment Lawyer (Counsel) - CLINT | Littler

Sander (A.J.C.) Theunissen has over fifteen years of experience and specializes in labor law and works council law. He has gained experience in labor law for the hospitality industry, among other areas.

1. What does the hospitality (Horeca) collective labour agreement (CAO) regulate about working hours and breaks?

The hospitality CAO aligns with the Working Hours Act and describes, among other things, how many hours you are allowed to work, how much rest you must have between shifts, and which breaks are mandatory.

2. What is the maximum number of hours I’m allowed to work per shift and per week?

Maximum 12 hours per shift
Maximum 60 hours in one week (an absolute limit, not meant to be structural)

3. Can I work 60 hours for several weeks in a row?

No. There are average limits:

Over 4 weeks, an average of max. 55 hours per week
Over 16 weeks, an average of max. 48 hours per week

So a peak week of 60 hours is only allowed if it’s compensated later.

4. When is work considered evening work or night work?

Night work is work between 00:00 and 06:00.
Evening work is roughly the hours in the evening (e.g. from 18:00/19:00 until 00:00) and is part of irregular shifts.

5. Do I get an allowance for evening or night work?

Not automatically. Allowances depend on CAO agreements and your role. In the hospitality CAO, there is often a 10% allowance between 00:00 and 06:00 for hotel reception and night shifts. For other roles (e.g. restaurant/café), this is not always standard.

6. When am I entitled to a break during my shift?

For workers aged 18+, the minimum rules are:

If you work more than 5.5 hours, you are entitled to at least a 30-minute break.
If you work more than 10 hours, you are entitled to a total of at least 45 minutes of breaks. Breaks can often be split (e.g. 2×15 minutes).

7. Are breaks paid?

Usually not. Breaks of 15 minutes or longer are generally unpaid. Very short interruptions (less than 15 minutes) often do count as working time.

8. How much rest do I need between two shifts?

You are usually entitled to at least 11 hours of rest between two shifts.