Common use of Meal Periods and Breaks Clause in Contracts

Meal Periods and Breaks. (a) Employees are eligible for a 30 minute meal period for each period of work greater than 5 consecutive hours. However, the time and duration of the meal period shall be the employee’s decision, providing that departmental requirements are met. In departments where complex scheduling is required, the department head or designate will make up the schedule after the employees have submitted their preferences, which will be met where reasonably possible. It is further understood that this is an unpaid meal period and the University shall recognize the employee’s right to enjoy this period without interruption. In the event that the employer finds it impossible to provide a meal break, employees shall be paid in lieu 30 minutes at the overtime rate. (b) Relief Periods - Employees shall be entitled to two paid relief periods of 15 minutes each, one normally to be taken during the first half of any shift, and the other normally to be taken during the second half of any shift. In the event an employee is unable to take their relief period due to operational requirements, the unused paid relief time shall be added to the total hours worked for pay purposes. Overtime rates shall be applicable for the portion of the shift that exceeds 8 hours only. The appending of this time to the end of a shift will not cause a meal penalty. (c) Third and subsequent meal periods on a shift shall be paid at the applicable overtime rate. (d) Where a meal period occurs near the end of a shift an employee may request to work through the end of a shift and leave work. In cases where the meal break is a paid break then the paid break shall be added at the end of the shift. Approval of such requests shall not result in a meal penalty. (e) An employee’s relief period may be combined with a meal period or another relief period by mutual agreement between the employee and the manager. Such combination is not to be used to shorten an employee’s regular work day.