Work Breaks?

Clocking out is a way of easily determining how much time you spent on your break. Plus, bona fide meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.

No provision in either federal or Ohio law requires an employer

to give employees any routine time off during the work shift for such things as a lunch period or breaks.

The single exception is found in Ohio’s Child Labor Law, which prohibits an employer from working a minor for more than

five straight hours without affording the minor at least a 30-minute break.

Some companies require employees clock out as a way to show they are actually taking their breaks and lunches. Other companies only require clocking out for lunches.

Many companies give their employees two 15 minute breaks during the day, but there are others that allow for one 30 minute break. Either way, being asked to clock out isn't anything new or unusual.

Your employer is not required to give you coffee breaks. Lunch breaks (thirty minutes) should be given every five hours and are not paid. If you are required to work during your thirty-minute lunch break, they must pay you AND allow you to eat.

Most places make you clock out for any breaks over 15 minutes. Welcome to the real world.

Yup - sounds pretty typical.

Generally when you work in a resturant you don't really get breaks.

Them's the breaks.