As one of the largest fast food chains in the world, Subway serves over 7 million sandwiches a day globally. With more than 40,000 locations across 100+ countries, the company employs a vast workforce to keep up with the constant demand. If you‘re one of the many sandwich artists, shift supervisors or managers who keep Subway running each day, you know how physically and mentally taxing the job can be. That‘s why it‘s so important to understand Subway‘s policies around breaks – both to ensure you are being treated fairly as an employee and to maintain your health and wellbeing on the job.
As a frequent Subway customer myself and an expert in analyzing retail and consumer trends, I‘ve noticed how employee satisfaction can have a direct impact on the customer experience. In this in-depth guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about Subway‘s break policies, how they measure up to industry standards, and what they mean for employees and customers alike.
Subway‘s Break Policy Basics
On paper, Subway‘s employee break policy seems relatively straightforward. According to the company‘s corporate handbook, employees are generally entitled to the following breaks based on the length of their shift:
| Shift Duration | Rest Breaks (Paid) | Meal Breaks (Unpaid) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 hours | none | none |
| 4-6 hours | one 10-minute break | none |
| 6-8 hours | one 15-minute break | one 30-minute break |
| 8+ hours | two 15-minute breaks | one 30-minute break |
However, as a franchised company, Subway allows individual store owners significant leeway in implementing these policies. Franchisees are permitted to set their own break rules as long as they meet the minimum standards required by state law. This means that the actual break times Subway employees receive can vary widely from store to store, and even from employee to employee within the same location.
Jonathan Maze, Executive Editor of Restaurant Business Magazine, elaborates on the impact of franchising on break policies:
"Subway‘s franchised business model means that restaurant-level policies like employee breaks are ultimately left up to thousands of individual operators. While Subway provides general guidelines and recommendations, franchisees have a lot of discretion in how they run their stores on a day-to-day basis. This can lead to inconsistencies in how breaks are managed across different locations."
As a result, many Subway employees have reported experiences with break policies that differ from what is outlined in the corporate handbook. Some say they only get one 10-minute break per 8-hour shift, while others claim to receive no breaks at all on busy days. On the other hand, some franchisees choose to provide longer or more frequent breaks than required, particularly in states with more generous labor laws.
How Subway‘s Break Policies Compare to Other Fast Food Chains
So how does Subway stack up against other major fast food employers when it comes to break policies? Let‘s take a look at some data from a recent survey of over 4,000 food service workers conducted by Restaurant Opportunities Centers United:
- Only 41% of fast food workers reported receiving paid breaks of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked (in line with Subway‘s policy)
- Just 21% said they are always able to take their legally required meal breaks
- 63% reported not receiving any break at all on their most recent shift
As you can see, inadequate break times are a widespread issue in the fast food industry, with many employers failing to meet even the most basic legal requirements. However, some chains do stand out for their more generous policies. For example:
- Chipotle provides paid 30-minute meal breaks for shifts over 6 hours and two paid 15-minute breaks for shifts over 10 hours
- Starbucks offers a paid 10-minute break for every 4 hours worked, a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every 6 hours, plus a free food/drink item per shift
- McDonald‘s requires franchisees to provide a paid 15-minute break for every 5-6 hours worked and an unpaid 30-minute meal break for every 7-8 hours worked
By comparison, Subway‘s official break policy falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. However, the franchising model makes it more difficult to ensure consistent implementation across all stores.
The Business Case for Better Breaks
From a business perspective, skimping on employee breaks might seem like an easy way to cut costs and squeeze out more productivity in the short term. But in reality, failing to provide adequate rest and nourishment for your workers can seriously backfire in terms of engagement, retention and customer service.
Studies have repeatedly shown that taking regular breaks boosts worker focus, creativity and problem-solving. One survey by Tork found that employees who take a lunch break every day score higher on a wide range of metrics, including job satisfaction, likelihood to continue working at the same company and sense of valued belonging. They are also significantly more likely to feel empowered to help make their company more successful.
On the flip side, a lack of breaks can contribute to burnout, higher turnover and more negative customer experiences. When workers are stressed, fatigued and resentful due to a lack of downtime, it inevitably shows up in their interactions with customers. A study by MIT found that companies with the lowest employee well-being scores also had the lowest customer satisfaction ratings.
As Simon Sapper, author of the book "Employing Engagement: Improving Wellbeing and Productivity," explains:
"Ensuring staff are taking proper breaks is not just a legal obligation for employers, it‘s a fundamental part of maintaining a healthy and motivated workforce. When employees feel cared for and supported in managing their wellbeing, they are much more likely to give their best effort and provide outstanding service to customers. It‘s a win-win."
What Subway Customers Should Know
As a consumer, you may be wondering what Subway‘s break policies mean for your experience as a customer. While it‘s easy to feel frustrated when your local Subway is understaffed or the sandwich artists seem stressed and exhausted, it‘s important to remember that these workers are often not being given the rest and support they need to do their jobs effectively.
If you notice signs that employees at your Subway are overworked, such as long lines, mistakes with orders or visibly stressed staff, consider speaking up to management about your concerns. Let them know that you value the wellbeing of their employees and believe they deserve adequate breaks. You can also choose to take your business to Subway franchises that you know prioritize worker welfare, or to other chains with stronger break policies.
Recommendations for Improving Subway‘s Break Policy
Given the clear benefits of providing regular breaks to employees, both for their own wellbeing and for the customer experience, here are some recommendations for how Subway could enhance its approach:
- Set a stronger central policy: While franchising allows for local flexibility, Subway corporate could set a higher bar by requiring all franchisees to meet more generous national break standards.
- Improve monitoring and enforcement of franchisee compliance: Subway should conduct more frequent and thorough audits of franchisees to ensure they are providing breaks in line with corporate policy and labor law requirements.
- Increase break times, particularly for longer shifts: Bumping up the frequency and duration of breaks, such as requiring a 15 minute break every 2 hours and a 1 hour meal break for 8+ hour shifts, would go a long way in reducing employee burnout.
- Offer free employee meals: Providing Subway workers with a complimentary footlong sub and drink during their shift would ensure they can enjoy a filling, nutritious meal on their break at no cost to them.
- Train managers to prioritize breaks: Educating Subway management staff on the importance of breaks for productivity and customer service can help create a culture where downtime is valued and encouraged.
- Empower employees to advocate for their needs: Conducting regular employee surveys and maintaining open lines of communication between workers and corporate leadership can help identify break policy pain points and drive meaningful improvements.
Ultimately, the key to a successful break policy is recognizing that employees are human beings, not just sandwich-making machines. When workers are treated with basic dignity and given the rest they need to function at their best, everyone wins.
The Bottom Line
Navigating Subway‘s break policies can be tricky for employees, given the patchwork of state laws and the varying practices of individual franchisees. But by educating yourself on your rights and advocating for your needs with management, you can help ensure you‘re getting the downtime you deserve.
For consumers, being aware of Subway‘s break policies can shed new light on the worker experience behind the counter. By supporting locations that prioritize employee wellbeing and speaking up about the importance of adequate breaks, you can play a role in pushing Subway and other chains to do better by their staff.
At the end of the day, a well-rested and supported workforce is essential to providing the "Eat Fresh" experience Subway is known for. When employees are able to show up as their best selves, everyone benefits – from the sandwich artists themselves to franchise owners to the customers they serve.
