Right to coffee break in hospitals

Questioner

Collective Labor Agreement Hospitals 2017 1. In addition to the statutory break under the Working Hours Act, the employer shall give the employee the opportunity for coffee/tea breaks, namely once per morning, afternoon, evening and/or night. 2. Coffee and tea breaks lasting less than fifteen minutes are considered working time. My question is± Am I ENTITLED to a coffee break? I have been working in this hospital for 20 years now and the work has been hard for me lately (I am now 63). When I complain to my manager that I have not been able to drink coffee for weeks, while he is in the coffee room every morning, I am always told that I am not entitled to a coffee break. He has been saying this for 20 years. Can you provide me and my colleagues with clarity about this CAO provision?

Lawyer

You are indeed entitled to coffee breaks of at least fifteen minutes.