Common use of Meal/Rest Periods Clause in Contracts

Meal/Rest Periods. Meal periods and rest periods shall be administered in accordance with state law (WAC 296-126-092). Nurses shall be allowed an unpaid meal period of one-half (1/2) hour. Nurses required by the Employer to remain on duty or in the Medical Center during their meal period shall be compensated for such time at the appropriate rate of pay. All nurses shall be allowed a rest period of fifteen (15) minutes on the Employer’s time, for each four (4) hours of working time. Employees shall immediately contact their supervisor (or designee) in the event they determine that they may be unable to take a rest break, so that other arrangements may be made. The parties agree that scheduling of breaks is best resolved by unit-based decisions, where the affected nurses are involved in creative and flexible approaches to the scheduling of rest periods and/or meal breaks. The parties recognize that break coverage needs vary by unit and depend on a variety of factors including patient acuity, specialization, and census. Break-Relief Nurses will be provided in adjunct to current campus staffing and other strategies in place to ensure rest periods/meal periods are taken. Unless there is an established procedure already in place that allows breaks to be taken, rest break plans will be developed in the unit based staffing committee.

Meal/Rest Periods. Meal periods and rest periods shall be administered in accordance with state law (WAC 296-126-092). Nurses shall be allowed an unpaid meal period of one-half (1/2½) hour. Nurses required by the Employer to remain on duty or in the Medical Center hospital during their meal period shall be compensated for such time at the appropriate rate of pay. All nurses shall be allowed a rest period of fifteen (15) minutes on the Employer’s time, for each four (4) hours of working time. Employees Nurses shall immediately contact their supervisor (or designee) in the event they determine that they may be unable to take a rest break, so that other arrangements may be made. Subject to prior approval, meal and/or rest periods may be combined. The parties agree that scheduling of breaks is best resolved by unit-based decisions, where the affected nurses are involved in creative and flexible approaches to the scheduling of rest periods and/or meal breaks. The parties recognize that break coverage needs vary by unit and depend on a variety of factors including patient acuity, specialization, and census. Break-Relief Nurses will be provided in adjunct to current campus staffing and other strategies in place to ensure rest periods/meal periods are taken. Unless there is an established procedure already in place that allows breaks to be taken, rest break plans will be developed in the unit based staffing committee.