As Kun explained, not paying employees for their meal breaks (when theyve worked through them) can add up fast. The time between 20 and 30 minutes is a bit murky, but the least risky approach is to pay for that time.. Kun continues, To avoid issues relating to breaks under the FLSA, many employersimplement policies reminding employees and their managers that [time] records need to be accurate, that employees should report any additional time worked, and that employees should not be interrupted during breaks.. Break area must be provided with adequate seating and tables in a clean and comfortable environment. If thats the case, they should be paid for that time. You may need to talk to a union representative or an employment lawyer if a prior agreement has been violated by your employer. The FLSA requires payment of at least the minimum wage for all hours worked in a workweek and time and one-half an employee's regular rate for time worked over 40 hours in a workweek. div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} Reasonable off-duty period, ordinarily hour but shorter period permitted under special conditions, between 3rd and 5th hour of work. 1 hour, if work period is longer than 5 consecutive hours, to begin after end of 2nd but before beginning of 6th consecutive hour worked, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less, meal period may be waived. So business owners must include them in an employees total hours worked per week. If you multiply that by the number of weeks the employee worked, you can see how the amount of underpayment a single employee might claim could be significant.. Even 30 minutes a day can add up to over two hours a week. How many hours per day or per week can an employee work? Applicable to every employer, except in workplace environments that by their nature of business provide ample opportunity to take an appropriate meal break. Contact. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} Unpaid BreaksContracts. Some employee contracts require that the employer pays for meals and breaks. Bathroom Breaks. Although Pennsylvania labor laws do not require employers to provide breaks to employees, many employers allow for these breaks anyway.Rest Breaks for Minors. Breastfeeding Breaks. /*-->