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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.02.003_Paid Rest Periods (Breaks)Policy #: 3.02.003 Type: CM Admin. Effective Date: 2006 Former'• 440 ti CITY OF ROHNERT PARK Administrative Policy Regarding Paid Rest Periods (Breaks) In California, the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders authorize paid rest periods (breaks) as follows: "The authorized rest period time shall be based on the total hours worked daily at the rate of ten (10) minutes net rest time for every four (4) hours worked, or major fraction thereof." This written policy establishes that the City authorizes and permits all employees city- wide to take two paid 15-minute breaks, one mid -morning and one mid -afternoon or adjusted in a similar fashion depending on their approved work schedule, i.e. one paid break for each four-hour period worked. The City is not prevented from staggering paid rest periods to avoid interruption in the flow of work and to maintain continuous operations or from scheduling the break to coincide with a stopping point in the work flow as it presents itself during the course of a work day. Rest periods shall take place at employer -designated areas, which may include or be limited to the employee's immediate work area. The City provides employee break rooms and facilities and encourages employees to take their breaks at their work location rather than leave and drive elsewhere. For employees who are working on projects out in the field away from their department location; breaks should be taken near the project area. At no time should a project be left unattended and possibly presenting a safety hazard to others. When in doubt regarding when or where to take one's paid break, the employee should contact their supervisor for clarification. Occasionally work projects or deadlines may prevent an employee from being able to take their break at the preferred time of mid -morning and mid -afternoon and their supervisor may approve for them to leave early that day to make up the paid break time within the same workday. However, employees will not be allowed to skip their paid break periods in order to accumulate the time and then take extended lunch periods, arrive to work late or leave early. The City does not require an employee to take a paid break if the employee chooses not to. No paid break will be authorized for employees whose total daily work time is less than three and one-half (3 '/2) hours. Authorized rest period time shall be counted as hours worked for which there shall be no deduction from wages. This formal, written policy shall not apply to any employee covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement if the collective bargaining agreement provides equivalent protection. This policy pertains to full-time, regular part-time, and part-time hourly employees. Appr Signi Date �Y"