Rest and Meal Breaks

Bethel University provides paid rest breaks to nonexempt (hourly) employees in compliance with state law. Employees are allowed a rest break of 15 minutes within each four consecutive hours of work (e.g., a standard 8‑hour day includes two paid rest breaks). These rest breaks are counted as hours worked and paid, therefore, employees do not punch out for their 15 minute rest breaks. Supervisors may schedule the rest breaks in order to support operations within the four-hour period. Rest breaks may not be used to extend the starting time or advance the departure time of an employee's work day. Paid rest breaks are not cumulative, and may not be used to extend an unpaid meal break or used as time away to attend a class. 

• Employees working 6 or more consecutive hours are allowed a 30 minute unpaid meal break.

• To ensure accurate timekeeping and compliance with wage and hour laws, all hourly, nonexempt employees are required to clock out at the start of their unpaid meal break and clock back in when the meal break ends.

• Meal breaks must be at least 30 minutes, free from work duties, and taken approximately midway through the shift, unless otherwise approved by a supervisor.

• Employees may not perform any work during an unpaid meal break. If work is performed, the time must be reported immediately to the supervisor so it can be corrected and paid.

• Employees are expected to take their full meal break unless a supervisor directs otherwise due to operational needs.

• Accurate timekeeping helps us honor both legal requirements and our commitment to integrity and stewardship. Intentional failure to clock in or out, or performing work off the clock, may result in corrective action in accordance with organizational policy.

• Employees are responsible for accurate timekeeping. Supervisors are responsible for reviewing and approving time records and ensuring compliance with this policy.