personal break

[/ˈpɜr.sə.nəl breɪk/]
nounpl: personal breaks
pausa pessoal
1. A break or pause taken by an individual for personal reasons, typically to attend to private matters, rest, or handle personal affairs during work hours
I need to take a personal break to make an important phone call.
Preciso fazer uma pausa pessoal para fazer uma ligação importante.
2. Time off from work or routine activities for personal refreshment or to address individual needs
The employee took a personal break after finishing the project.
O funcionário fez uma pausa pessoal após terminar o projeto.
In Brazil, personal breaks are increasingly recognized as part of healthy work-life balance policies. Many companies now formally allow personal breaks as part of labor laws and employee wellness programs. In the USA, particularly in NYC, the concept is more informal and varies by workplace culture, though it's becoming more standardized in modern corporate environments that prioritize mental health and employee well-being.
NYC Slang
a breather / personal time
Synonyms / Sinônimos
personal timeprivate breaktime offintermissionrespite
Antonyms / Antônimos
continuous worknon-stop labor

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pausa pessoal
Most common and widely understood term across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
pausa pessoal / folga
Folga also used in informal contexts
São Paulo
pausa pessoal
Standard business terminology in corporate settings
Portugal
pausa pessoal / intervalo pessoal
Intervalo pessoal also acceptable in formal contexts

Related Words

break roomlunch breaksick leavetime managementwork-life balancerecess

Related Idioms & Phrases

take a breather
step away from work
take five
need some me-time
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