Working or retired, are breaks voluntary? (11)
I believe the answer is:
operational
'working' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'retired are breaks voluntary?' is the wordplay.
'retired' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'breaks' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters break into the word).
'voluntary?' becomes 'optional' (I've seen this before).
'are' written backwards gives 'era'.
'era' going inside 'optional' is 'OPERATIONAL'.
'or' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for operational that I've seen before include "running" , "Ready for action" , "working satisfactorily?" , "In working order" , "Ready for use" .)