Required Breaks?

chestnut

In Texas, are there any limitations for non-exempt employees in terms of number of hours they can work without a break. We have employees who work straight six hour and straight eight hour shifts. Thanks.

qsausagelm

Texas labor laws are silent regarding breaks, lunches, holidays, vacation, etc. We establish our own policies regarding time off. Obviously, everyone needs time away from work to recharge.

pork1

CHESTNUT: As a norm it has been my experience that a paid rest break in a four hour block of time is normal for most companies. If your situation warrants a 6 hour working time before a rest break it is authorized. It is paid time. I once asked that question to a wage and hour auditor and their response was every four hours is norm and if justified for a business purpose one could go the 6 hour period. To do that every day morning and afternoon shifts there has got to be room, where a rest break is accomplished at the working station rather than in a break room. It becomes a safety issue for the longer the period of sustained physical work the greater the risk of accidents and injury.

As the Safety Director, I would want proof that this must be the situation, before I would give my blessings.

PORK

Shadowfax

What possible basis is there for an wage and hour auditor to justify the info you relate? Certainly the FLSA requires no such break nor room. Now, I don't know about Texas, but in MI I could work a guy 16 hours w/o violating a law.m Wasn't that the question?

LivindonSouth

The auditor was giving you what we all have one of; his opinion. It has no bearing on anything and no relevance.

HRinFL

Glad to see you back Don!