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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
41 thru 45 of 92 comments
On 06/17/04
jeanie from FL said:
i would like to know what the break laws are in the union and private companies are
On 05/21/04
Cynara from VA said:
As an non-exempt employee who works 8 hours a day am I entitled to any breaks on the clock?
On 05/21/04
Cynara from VA said:
As an non-exempt employee who works 8 hours a day am I entitled to any breaks on the clock?
On 05/20/04
Cynthia from TX said:
I agree with you we only get 15 minutes for a lunch break at the company I work for also I work 9 hours a day and that is the only break we get. what can we do about this?
On 04/29/04
Brian from AZ said:
Article 23-204 does not exist in the revised statutes (see http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=23) There is a House bill 1101 http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/46leg/2r/bills/sb1101s.htm) that addresses to Article 23-204, but it deals with an Employee's right to review personnel file. Currently, there is no law in effect in Arizona that addresses breaks. Sorry Shirley, but it is up to the employer or a labor agreement.
41 thru 45 of 92 comments


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