Manual Breaks

• Flexibility to choose between manual or automatic breaks depending on your teams needs.

Break Planning: Manual vs. Automatic Breaks

Break planning in Timeero allows you to customize employee break settings to match your company policies. You can create different types of breaks—such as meal vs. rest, or paid vs. unpaid—to ensure compliance and flexibility for your team. Break details can also be seen on the Timesheet page. 

In Timeero, there are two main types of breaks you can enable:

 

1. How do I set Set Automatic Breaks? 

These breaks are automatically inserted into an employee’s timesheet after a set number of hours worked.

For example, you can configure a 30-minute unpaid lunch break to apply after 5 hours of work.

 

2. How do I Set Manual Breaks? 

Manual breaks are employee-initiated—each user starts and ends their break directly from the Timeero mobile app.

While a user is on break:

• GPS tracking is paused

• Mileage tracking is paused

Best for teams who need flexibility or have variable break schedules.

 

3. How do I Set Up California Breaks? 

This is also a manual break, but includes daily sign-offs.  To configure breaks for California workers, click here.

 

How to Set Up Manual Break Rules

1. Enable Manual Breaks
   Go to Company Settings > General, then turn on "Allow users to take breaks manually."

2. Add Break Rules
   Navigate to Company Settings > Breaks, then click Add Break Rule.

• Name your break (e.g., Lunch, Rest).

• Set a break duration, or check "No set length" to let employees choose.

• Enable "Prevent ending break early" if using a fixed duration.

• Check "Unpaid" if the break should be deducted from total hours.

Click Add Break to save.

Once live, users will see a Start Break button when clocked in. They’ll then select from the break types you’ve created.

 

 

How to Manage Break Rules? 

You can easily update, deactivate, or delete break rules using the icons next to each rule:

• Edit – Click the pencil icon to modify a break rule.

• Deactivate – Click the circle icon to temporarily disable a break. This hides it from your team but keeps it saved in your account—you can re-enable it anytime.

• Delete – Click the trash can icon to permanently remove a break. This cannot be undone.

 

How to start a break from the mobile app

To utilize breaks on mobile apps, there has to be at least one break rule set up.

Once a break rule has been created, there will be an option to start a break in the mobile app.

In order to see the option to start a break, the user must first clock in, and the button will appear as below. 

Click on Start Break and select the break type from the list. Click the End Break button to stop your break.

         

To review break details, you can run the Break Report.
 

Click here to download a FREE break policy template your staff can sign.

FAQs 

When Should I use automatic breaks vs. manual breaks? 

Use automatic breaks when your team follows consistent, scheduled break times that can be applied the same way to everyone. Use manual breaks when employees need flexibility to start and end breaks themselves, or when break times vary by day or job.

How do I change or turn off an existing break rule? 

Go to Company Settings > Breaks, then use the icons next to the rule to edit, deactivate, or delete it. Deactivating hides the break from your team without removing it, while deleting permanently removes it from your account.

How do breaks show up on timesheets and reports?

Breaks appear as separate entries on the Timesheet page and are reflected in your Break Report, so you can clearly see when employees were on break.