Restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons, call centers, and customer-focused offices often have “just enough” staffing on hand at any given time. Limited staffing makes it challenging to relieve an employee for a rest period or meal break. An employee who leaves the work area, even for a small amount of time often causes stress and increased workloads on colleagues. This factor, though understandable, does not release an employer from providing mandatory rest periods and breaks to its employees.
Breaks and meal periods should, therefore, be scheduled in accordance with state law requirements; for example, some states require that employees receive a paid ten minute break for every four hour segment of work or an unpaid meal period of at least thirty minutes in duration after an employee works five consecutive hours. Other states require that employees under the age of 18 are provided with paid rest breaks or meal periods, but the laws do not apply to an employee who is over the age of 18.
Just in 2014 alone there were well over 11,238 FLSA violation cases amounting to $136,239,001 in back pay. The average small to medium sized employer who may have “just enough” staffing on hand could be at risk at a $12,124 FLSA violation case.
Coastal Payroll understands that managing staffing for meal and break periods is not every employer’s priority and with complicated federal and state mandates, it definitely isn’t easy. We have certified HR professionals who are available at your fingertips from 5am-5pm PST; ready to answer YOUR questions with a one-day response time guarantee*.
Contact us today at info@coastalpayroll.com or 858.565.2123 to get unlimited access to our HR pros and HR support center.... And even better? First month is on us!