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3. Meal breaks and rest periods <br /> MN Dept of Labor& Minnesota state law requires employers to provide restroom time and <br /> Industry:Labor Standards <br /> Work breaks(rest periods). sufficient time to eat a meal.If a break is less than 20 minutes in duration,it <br /> Minn.Stat. 177.253. <br /> must be counted as hours worked.Time to use the nearest restroom must be <br /> provided within each four consecutive hours of work.Meal time applies to <br /> Minn.Stat.§177.254. employees who work eight or more consecutive hours. <br /> Policy language regarding meal breaks and rest periods should address basic <br /> issues such as the following: <br /> • What are the time limits on rest periods and meal breaks? <br /> • Which breaks will be considered work time? <br /> • Are there any groups of employees required to take breaks at specific <br /> times or at specific locations? <br /> • Can breaks be"saved"to enable an employee to alter his or her work <br /> schedule? <br /> • Are nonexempt employees required to take lunch breaks away from their <br /> work stations so as to avoid potential overtime clairns'1 <br /> 1 177.251 <br /> 2015 Minnesota Statutes <br /> 177.253 MANDATORY WORK BREAKS. <br /> Subdivision 1. Rest breaks. An employer must allow each employee adequate time from work within <br /> each four consecutive hours of work to utilize the nearest convenient restroom. <br /> Subd.2_ Collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this section prohibits employers and employees <br /> from establishing rest breaks different from those provided in this section pursuant to a collective bargaining <br /> agreement. <br /> History: 1988 c 559 s 1 <br /> 1 177.253 <br /> 2015 Minnesota Statutes <br /> 177.254 MANDATORY MEAL BREAK <br /> Subdivision 1. Meal break. An employer must permit each employee who is working for eight or more <br /> consecutive hours sufficient time to eat a meal. <br /> Subd.2. Payment not required. Nothing in this section requires the employer to pay the employee <br /> during the meal break_ <br /> Subd.3. Collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this section prohibits employers and employees <br /> from establishing meal periods different from those provided in this section pursuant to a collective bargaining <br /> agreement. <br /> History: 1989 c 167 s 1 <br /> 130 <br />