Meal Breaks

A Meal Breaks policy explains when employees must be provided meal periods (and when breaks may be unpaid), how on-duty or interrupted meals are handled, and how your organization tracks and enforces compliant break practices under applicable state and local wage and hour rules.

How to Write a Meal Breaks Policy

• Start with "why" and introduce the concept.
• State who is covered, focusing on minors and any age-based eligibility.
• Define the meal break as unpaid and uninterrupted.
• Clarify that short breaks don't count as interrupting a continuous work period.
• Explain that employees are relieved of all duties and may leave the workplace during the break.
• Direct employees to raise scheduling or break questions through your normal communication channels.
• Tell employees to report any situation where they're prevented or discouraged from taking a required break.

For advice on writing a Meal Breaks policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.