HR3420 - Rest and Meal Breaks

1. Institutional Regulations
   
   Rest and meal breaks are granted to promote efficiency by providing employees with an opportunity to rest, relax and recharge periodically during their work shift.
    
   1. Support Staff employees shall be permitted one 15-minute break during the first half of the shift and one 15-minute break during the second half of the shift, as work conditions allow.
   2. Non-Support Staff employees may be granted two paid rest breaks during the work shift not to exceed 15 minutes each. Breaks shall be granted as work conditions allow and, if necessary, specific break times may be designated by the supervisor.
   3. Employees who work an 8-hour shift shall be scheduled for at least a 1/2 hour unpaid meal break. If necessary, specific meal break times may be designated by the supervisor.
   4. The two 15 minute rest breaks in an 8 hour shift may not be combined to create a 30 minute paid break or be added to the meal break to create a longer meal period.
   5. Rest breaks are intended to be taken during a shift and are not for the purpose of arriving late or leaving early.
2. Procedure
   1. Rest Breaks
      1. Rest breaks shall be considered work time when computing overtime for nonexempt employees.
      2. Rest breaks are not guaranteed, but are to be taken as work allows.
      3. Employees scheduled to work less than an 8-hour shift may be granted one 15-minute rest break during any 4 consecutive hours of work as conditions allow.
   2. Meal Breaks
      1. Meal breaks are generally unpaid, with the following exceptions (see HR 3445):
         1. Some employees are regularly scheduled a meal break during which they are required to be on duty. These meal breaks are paid time and for nonexempt employees, shall be considered work time for purposes of computing overtime.
         2. If a nonexempt employee’s meal break is supposed to be work-free but is interrupted because they are required, suffered or permitted to perform work, the employee shall be paid for the period of the interruption and another 30 minute meal break shall be rescheduled. If another 30 minute uninterrupted period is not rescheduled, the employee shall be paid for the entire 30 minute meal break. The paid time shall be considered work time for purposes of computing overtime for nonexempt employees.
      2. Meal breaks are required for Regular Support Staff employees working an 8 hour shift and are to be assigned around the middle of the work shift. Supervisors of Regular employees other than Support Staff should ensure that meal breaks are built into the work shift. Regular 8-hour shifts without a meal break are not recommended.

November 1, 2012

March 1, 2019

September 1, 2020