You have the right to take paid rest breaks and unpaid lunch breaks during the work day. The length of the breaks and lunch periods you’re entitled to depend on how many hours you work in a given workday.
(Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter how long you were scheduled to work; what matters is how many hours you actually work.)
Rest Breaks: Your Rights and Your Contract
If you work less than 6 hours in a day, your contract entitles you to a 10-minute break.
If you work 6 hours in a day with no lunch, your contract entitles you to two 10-minute breaks.
If you work 6 hours in a day with a lunch, your contract entitles you to a 10-minute break.
If you work more than 6 hours in a day, your contract entitles you to one 10-minute break in the time before your lunch, and one 10-minute break in the time after your lunch.
Rest periods shall be uninterrupted.
Lunch Breaks: Your Rights and Your Contract
Any employee scheduled for a shift of more than 6 hours shall have a one hour lunch period (unless one half 1/2 hour or no lunch period is agreed to by the Employer and the employee) as near the middle of the work period as is practice. Lunch periods shall be uninterrupted.
A lunch cannot substitute for breaks—any employee who works more than four hours gets their breaks as outlined above, as well as any scheduled lunch.
If you have questions about lunches, breaks, or want to know more about your rights and your contract, speak to a Union Steward or call your
Union Representative at 1-208-367-9305.
