Human Resources

2.08 Rest Periods and Meal Periods

This policy establishes rest and meal period requirements in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Origination date: 10/1/93
Revised: 1/1/2000
Applicability: Classified Staff

Rest Periods

Non-exempt employees shall be entitled to one compensable rest period of up to fifteen minutes each morning and afternoon during regularly assigned duty hours. The rest period is intended to be a recess following an extended period of work and should be followed by another extended period of work. Rest periods may not be used to cover late arrivals or early departures from an employee’s workstation or to extend a meal period. Rest periods shall not be cumulative, so if not taken on any given day, are forfeited. The morning and afternoon rest periods may not be combined to create a thirty-minute rest period used once a day, nor may rest periods be accumulated or converted into vacation time or other compensated time away from the workplace. Rest periods must be taken at the work site or another appropriate area designated by the department head. Work time may not be used to travel to another area where a rest period is then initiated.

Meal Periods

Classified staff employees are authorized to take a one-hour unpaid meal period during each work day. For a meal period to be non-compensable, non-exempt employees must be completely relieved of work duties during the meal period, and whenever possible, be free to leave the work site.