Break tracking, paid vs unpaid breaks

A workday isn't eight hours of solid work with zero pause. There are lunch breaks, coffee breaks, quick breathers. Bookinda records all of these, and knows which counts as paid working time and which doesn't.

The two break types

Unpaid break

The classic case. During lunch, the colleague isn't working, so it's deducted from paid work hours. For a Hungarian 8-hour shift, this is typically a 30-60 minute lunch.

Paid break

Some breaks count as work time. E.g. a 5-minute coffee at reception with a customer present. Or the 20-minute meal break that Hungarian labor law mandates for shifts longer than 6 hours.

The difference shows up at hour totaling: unpaid breaks deduct, paid breaks stay in.

How to configure which is which

Under Settings → Time Clock → Break settings:

• Default break type: unpaid (typical) or paid (in sensitive labor areas).
• Per-staff override: e.g. paid for receptionists, unpaid for stylists.
• By break length: e.g. first 10 minutes paid, beyond that unpaid.

The colleague can't switch the type on her own break. The manager configures the rule in advance.

How the colleague records it

Simple flow:

1. Going on break → Start break button.
2. Coming back → End break button.
3. The system records duration with the configured type.

Multiple breaks per day are fine. Each is recorded separately.

Use case scenarios

Scenario 1: Lunch break (unpaid)

Anna works 09:00-17:00. 12:30-13:30 lunch. Break type: unpaid. Result: 8 hours present, 1 hour break, 7 hours paid work.

Scenario 2: Coffee break (paid)

Salon policy: under Hungarian Mt (labor code) for 8-hour shifts, 20 minutes of paid break is mandatory. Bella sits down for coffee 14:00-14:20. Break type: paid. Result: 8 hours present, 20 min paid break, 8 hours paid work (break counts in).

Scenario 3: Mixed

Cili works 8 hours. 12:30-13:00 lunch (unpaid). 16:00-16:15 coffee (paid). Result: 8 hours present, 30 min unpaid + 15 min paid, 7h 45m paid work.

Scenario 4: Long day

Wedding day, Anna works 11 hours. 13:00-13:45 lunch, 18:00-18:15 dinner. Both unpaid. Result: 11 hours present, 1 hour break, 10 hours paid work (2 of which are overtime).

Scenario 5: Hungarian Mt's 20-min break

The employer wants to honor Mt by giving a 20-minute paid meal break in shifts over 6 hours. Setting: in 6+ hour shifts the first 20 minutes of break are paid, rest unpaid. The system auto-classifies.

What the colleague shouldn't do

• Don't forget to End break: if she goes on break at 12:30 and returns at 13:00 but forgets the End break button, the system will see her on break all afternoon. Result: tiny work hours.
• Don't skip recording small breaks: some staff forget to record "just 5 minutes" breaks. If an auditor sees 8 hours of uninterrupted work, questions arise.

Tips

• Make the rule visible: print a "What counts as paid break" sheet at reception. The team knows specifics, doesn't guess.
• Audit seasonally: check monthly break data. If someone's spending 90 minutes a day on break, conversation time.
• Don't micromanage 5 minutes: too-strict break policy erodes trust. Small flexibility pays back.
• Paid breaks = hospitality standard: the truly premium salons go with paid breaks. Worth it for retention.