Speak Up! - View Question #187

« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #187

Question: How many breaks at work are required by law?

Answer: State Laws usually mandate when employers must give you "rest periods" or breaks. How much and when depends mostly on the discretion of the employer, but there are some legal protections.

There is no federal law that gives you meal or rest breaks. However, states sometimes have labor laws which mandate time off for meals (like a lunch break) or for a rest break (perhaps a mid-afternoon break). Further, labor unions oftentimes have specific contracts that explicitly mandate time for breaks. Whether or not you can get paid during breaks depends on your employer and on the same state labor laws.


Comments
76 thru 80 of 92 comments
On 06/27/03
Andy from WI said:
Can my employer punish me for not wearing the correct footware (sandals instead of shoes) at work by not paying me for the hours I worked that day??
On 06/25/03
Tira from FL said:
can my employer take out an hour for lunch if i have worked only four hours?
On 04/14/03
Linda from AZ said:
If you are going to be docked for the time, shouldn't you take the hour off for lunch? You are not getting paid anyway, why should the company get the benefit of your not eating? Read a book, take a walk, but definitley take the hour off.
On 03/13/03
chris from AZ said:
I have a ploblem. i work about 11 hours a day, and usually spend my 15 minute lunch period at work while carrying out my duties and still get docked for an hour lunch break...........Is that even legal?
On 02/26/03
tom from CA said:
Don't work then. If you were in California you would not be able to get a job. There are some many laws to protect you here no one could hire you if you are a minor. It it mandatory to take 30 minutes for lunch here. So you could stay at work 30 minutes more and still get paid the same.
76 thru 80 of 92 comments



Read more about the law and Other
Related Stories
Related Laws
« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #187