UK: Working time rest breaks - compensatory rest must be one continuous period

Employers in certain sectors can rely on the exemption from the ordinary rest break requirements in the Working Time Regulations (or 20 minutes for every 6 hours worked) as long as they provide equivalent compensatory rest. The EAT has confirmed that, in the same way as for ordinary rest breaks, compensatory rest breaks must be a continuous uninterrupted period of at least 20 minutes and cannot be satisfied by a number of shorter breaks totalling more than 20 minutes. Organisations that rely on the compensatory rest provisions should review their policies to ensure compliance. (Crawford v Network Rail Infrastructure)