Does the FLSA require meal breaks?

The FLSA does not require meal breaks, but if they are provided, they must be unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of duties.

Can an employee waive their lunch break?

In some states, yes, if there is a mutual written agreement and the shift is under a certain length (e.g., 6 hours).

Compliance

What is Meal Break Compliance?

Meal break compliance involves adhering to federal and state labor laws that mandate uninterrupted, usually unpaid meal periods (typically 30 minutes) for shifts exceeding a certain length (e.g., 5 or 6 hours).

Managing Breaks

1Employee clocks out for a meal break.
2System tracks the duration to ensure it meets the minimum (e.g., 30 full minutes).
3Employee resumes work only after the mandated time has passed.

State-Level Stringency

States like California have strict penalties (e.g., one hour of extra pay) for every missed, late, or interrupted meal break. Automated tracking is the best defense against these penalties.

Automated Break Enforcement

ClockIt can be configured to flag breaks that are too short or used to enforce minimum break durations, helping managers spot compliance issues instantly.

Get Started with ClockIt

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the FLSA require meal breaks?: The FLSA does not require meal breaks, but if they are provided, they must be unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of duties.
Can an employee waive their lunch break?: In some states, yes, if there is a mutual written agreement and the shift is under a certain length (e.g., 6 hours).

Related Terms

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