# Where breaks come from

**For:** Manager
**You'll need:** Nothing.

Breaks aren't entered shift by shift. {{ app_name }} computes the break for every shift from two inputs:

1. The **break rules** for the shift's location and length — these are the labor-law-aware rules that say, e.g., "a shift over 7 hours gets a 30-minute break".
2. The person's **waived breaks**, if any — individual exceptions where a person has formally waived a break that would otherwise apply.

The computed break shows up on the schedule, on the timesheet, and in payroll exports.

## To configure break rules

Go to {doc}`/rules-and-compliance/break-rules/index`. That's where you create, edit, and assign break rules per location.

## To set a person's waived breaks

Open the person under **Company → People** and use the **'Waived breaks'** section on their profile. A waived break tells {{ app_name }} not to deduct an otherwise-required break for that person.

```{warning}
Waiving a break may affect labor-law compliance. Make sure you have the documented agreement on file before you tick anything here.
```

## Related

- {doc}`/rules-and-compliance/break-rules/index`
- {doc}`timesheet/index`