The others have a breather (4)
I believe the answer is:
rest
This clue is a double definition.
'the others' is the first definition.
(other people are the rest)
'a breather' is the second definition.
(a breather is a break or rest)
'have' is the link.
(Other definitions for rest that I've seen before include "'''God ... ye, merry gentlemen'' (carol) (4)'" , "What's left over" , "Remainder; cease work" , "Remainder; be inactive" , "Freedom from activity" .)