Q&A: Am I Required to Give Hourly Employees Paid Breaks in Addition to Lunch?

Regardless of the lack of federal regulation on the subject, most employers do offer lunch breaks due to the positive impact on both morale and productivity, and many offer rest breaks as well. If you are considering either excluding lunch breaks or making them optional, you should not allow the lack of federal law on the subject dictate your company policy without first checking your state laws on the matter. Nearly half of the states require meal breaks and a handful require rest breaks. Also, you should keep in mind specific religious or health considerations could require you to offer rest or lunch breaks as well. If you do business in industries or states where employers are bound by agreements with unionized workforces, you should also consult any collective bargaining agreements which might require standard breaks.
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