How many paid breaks do you get at work?

[DCal430]

I was talking to someone and was surprised to learn that they only get two 10 minute breaks during their 8 hours of work a day. Was even told when they use the restroom, it counted against their break.

I personally get two 15 minute breaks a day, plus I get an additional 5 minute break every hour. These 5 minute breaks are use it or lose it, and cannot be carried forward to the next hour. These are paid breaks of course.

 

[zerocool84]

It all depends if you're paid hourly or salary.

 

[Dekasa]

I get two 15s and a 30 minute (unpaid) lunch in an 8 hour day. Bathroom breaks don't count, and no one counts my breaks, anyway. But I work on commission so, I (and my colleagues) hardly take breaks, anyway.

 

[DCal430]

It all depends if you're paid hourly or salary.

I am assuming hourly. Salary people at my work can take as many breaks as they want. Hourly people here must work atleast 40 hours a week. Salary can work for how much they want.

 

[eldorado99]

Officially I get two 15 minutes paid and one 30 minute unpaid, however realistically I get as many breaks as I want as long as I get my work done. I never realized anyone monitored bathroom breaks in the 1st world...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I was talking to someone and was surprised to learn that they only get two 10 minute breaks during their 8 hours of work a day. Was even told when they use the restroom, it counted against their break.

I personally get two 15 minute breaks a day, plus I get an additional 5 minute break every hour. These 5 minute breaks are use it or lose it, and cannot be carried forward to the next hour. These are paid breaks of course.

That implies that they're monitored. How do you work in an environment like that without going postal?

 

[Scouzer]

Depends on how busy it is. Some days are zero breaks but if it's slow I've had days where I spent 6 out of 8 hours on paid break in the recliner watching satellite TV. I'd say most days I get a one hour lunch, and I'm welcome to pee or poo whenever.

 

[Bignate603]

I am assuming hourly. Salary people at my work can take as many breaks as they want.

Yeah, I'm salaried and breaks don't matter. I'm supposed to track my time though (my time gets billed against the job I'm working) and usually the only time during the day that I don't count against a job is when I'm eating lunch.

 

[DCal430]

That implies that they're monitored. How do you work in an environment like that without going postal?

No idea, where I work our breaks are all on the trust system. And I am free to take an hour break paid, if I make up that hour another day of the week, but it isn't activly monitored. All trust system.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm hourly but still go on lunch or take breaks whenever you want. The only time I was monitored was working retail.

 

[Svnla]

I am salaried so I can take breaks whenever I feel like it. As long as works are getting done, my boss does not care.

 

[BoomerD]

Some state laws require the employer to give the employees (hourly) coffee breaks...but it's not required by federal law.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm

"Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the work week and considered in determining if overtime was worked.

Bona fide meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable. "

Here in California, an employee is allowed a 10 minute break at the mid point of every four hour portion of the work day.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_restperiods.htm

"Employers of California employees covered by the rest period provisions of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders must authorize and permit a net 10-minute paid rest period for every four hours worked or major fraction thereof. Insofar as is practicable, the rest period should be in the middle of the work period. If an employer does not authorize or permit a rest period, the employer shall pay the employee one hour of pay at the employee's regular rate of pay for each workday that the rest period is not provided."

Meal breaks must be given to any employee who works 5 or more hours per day...with some exceptions.

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_MealPeriods.htm

"In California, an employer may not employ an employee for a work period of more than five hours per day without providing the employee with a meal period of not less than thirty minutes, except that if the total work period per day of the employee is no more than six hours, the meal period may be waived by mutual consent of both the employer and employee. A second meal period of not less than thirty minutes is required if an employee works more than ten hours per day, except that if the total hours worked is no more than 12 hours, the second meal period may be waived by mutual consent of the employer and employee only if the first meal period was not waived."

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I'm on salary. If the surf's up and I don't have anything to do.... later gator.

On the other hand... if I have shit going on I could crap out 80+ hours that week.

 

[JimmiG]

I'm a trainee so I don't get paid for my work. Don't take any breaks either except for 30-45 minutes lunch.

 

[Woosta]

I am salaried so I can take breaks whenever I feel like it. As long as works are getting done, my boss does not care.

Ditto.

 

[Anneka]

Usually i have 24 paid days a year.

 

[Skitzer]

I am not supervised, I take breaks whenever I want. Of course I don't abuse it because I am a dedicated company man.

 

[bobdole369]

If I can't go chill for a second pretty much whenever I want, I look for another job.

 

[rcpratt]

My boss wouldn't care if I took 6 hours of breaks a day as long as our work got done.

 

[highland145]

I am the boss. Judging by my post count, I'm on break a lot.

Like others, I do everything that needs to be done whether it's 1 hr/day or 12.

 

[Juddog]

I'm on salary. My typical work day is 9 - 11 hours, 5 days a week, sometimes with weekend calls. I get paid a flat rate, so if I want to take an hour lunch, it's no biggie since technically even with an hour lunch that's still 8 hours.

 

[Braznor]

I'm salaried, so I can take as many breaks I want.

 

[Kabob]

Two 20 min paid breaks and one 1 hour unpaid lunch in an 8-5 day.

 

[Lamont Burns]

zero, or infinite

 

[Wyndru]

Salary, basically do what I want as far as breaks go.

As long as the work gets done my boss doesn't care when we take breaks.