Missouri Labor Laws: Understanding Breaks For Workers

Missouri labor laws do not require employers to provide employees with breaks of any kind, including lunch hours. This means that whether or not an employee gets a break is left to the discretion of the employer, can be agreed upon by the employer and employee, or may be addressed by company policy or contract. While Missouri law does not require meal or rest breaks, federal law requires employers to pay employees for every hour worked, including short breaks.

Missouri labour laws do not require breaks

Missouri labor laws do not require breaks. This means that, under Missouri state law, employers are not mandated to provide their staff with rest or meal breaks. This applies to all employees, except for youth workers in the entertainment industry.

Although Missouri labor laws do not require breaks, federal law states that employers have the discretion to provide rest and meal breaks to their employees. According to federal law, any short breaks that last under 20 minutes are considered work hours and must be compensated. Meal breaks lasting 30 minutes or more are unpaid, and employees must be relieved of their work duties during this time.

In Missouri, the provision of breaks is left to the discretion of the employer, can be agreed upon by the employer and employee, or may be addressed by company policy or contract. While not required by law, many employers choose to provide breaks as a matter of custom and policy.

A new bill, HB 2856, has been introduced, which would require all employers to offer their employees a "meal period" of at least 30 minutes per eight-hour shift. If passed, eligible employers who do not offer these breaks would be fined $300 to $1,200 per violation.

Breaks lasting under 20 minutes are considered work hours

Missouri labor laws do not cover specific regulations regarding breaks at work. However, according to federal law, employers have the discretion to provide rest and meal breaks to their employees, and it must be clearly stated in the employment contract and company policies.

While state laws do not require employers to provide breaks, most employers typically offer some break time. If an employer does offer breaks, it is mandatory to follow federal law. According to federal law, any breaks lasting under 20 minutes are considered work hours and must be paid for and counted as work hours. On the other hand, breaks that exceed 20 minutes are not considered work hours and, therefore, do not need to be compensated.

For example, if an employee has to work through a meal, that time must be paid. A receptionist who must cover the phones or wait for deliveries during lunch must be paid for that time. Similarly, a repair person who grabs a quick bite while driving from one job to the next is also entitled to compensation. These short breaks are considered part of the workday and must be paid.

It is important to note that employers do not have to pay for bona fide meal breaks, during which the employee is relieved of all duties for the purpose of eating a meal. An employee need not be allowed to leave the worksite during a meal break, as long as they are relieved of their work duties. Ordinarily, a meal break is considered "bona fide" if it lasts for at least 30 minutes, and employers are not required to pay employees for this time.

Employees must be paid for shorter breaks

Missouri labor laws do not require employers to provide employees with breaks, including lunch breaks, during a workday or longer shifts of up to eight hours. However, Missouri employers often choose to offer breaks as per their written policies, and these breaks are typically compensated.

While Missouri law doesn't mandate employers to provide breaks, it is common practice for employers to offer various breaks at their discretion, usually ranging from five to 20 minutes, without deducting from the employees' pay. These breaks are agreed upon between the employer and employee before starting work.

It's important to note that Missouri labor laws do require employers to compensate their employees for the actual hours worked. This includes travel time during normal work hours as part of the job. Such travel time is considered work time and is factored into determining whether employees have been paid the minimum wage.

Additionally, Missouri labor laws mandate that employees receive at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay once they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. Overtime pay kicks in after 40 hours, not just after eight hours in a workday.

In summary, while Missouri law doesn't require employers to provide breaks, if they choose to offer shorter breaks, those breaks must be paid. This is in accordance with federal guidelines, which state that short breaks of up to 20 minutes must be compensated. On the other hand, meal breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid, provided the employee is relieved of all duties during that time.

Employers can decide the duration and frequency of meal breaks

Missouri labor laws do not require employers to provide employees with any breaks, including meal breaks. This means that the duration and frequency of meal breaks are left to the discretion of the employer. However, if an employer does choose to offer meal breaks, they must follow federal law.

According to federal law, meal breaks lasting 30 minutes or longer are considered "bona fide" and are unpaid, provided that the employee is relieved of all work duties during this time. On the other hand, shorter breaks that fall between 5 and 20 minutes must be paid and are considered part of the workday.

While not mandated by law, many employers choose to offer meal and rest breaks as a matter of custom and policy. This is often done in recognition of the fact that employees who are hungry and tired are less productive and may be less pleasant to customers and coworkers.

It is important to note that Missouri labor laws do not apply to youth workers in the entertainment industry. In this case, federal law requires that minors cannot work for more than 5.5 hours without a meal break and must be given a 15-minute rest period after every 2 hours of work.

Employees are expected to work 40 hours a week

In Missouri, employees are expected to work a standard workweek of 40 hours. This is in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, which states that there is no minimum or maximum number of hours an employee may be scheduled or asked to work. Missouri labor laws also require most employers to pay or compensate their employees for the number of actual hours worked.

If an employee works more than 40 hours in a week, the employer must compensate them with an overtime rate for the excess hours. Employers must pay at least one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay once overtime pay is in effect. Overtime pay begins once an employee works more than 40 hours in a workweek, rather than more than 8 hours in a workday. It is important to note that state and federal law does not allow employees to voluntarily waive their rights to overtime pay and accept straight time instead. Any employer that asks an employee to do so is violating the law, and employees should file a wage complaint.

While Missouri labor laws do not cover specific regulations regarding breaks at work, federal law states that employers have the discretion to provide rest and meal breaks to their employees. It is essential for both employers and employees to be aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding break benefits. According to federal law, any short breaks that last less than 20 minutes should be considered work hours, and the employee must be compensated for this time.

Breastfeeding employees in Missouri are protected by the federal PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act under FLSA. Employers are required to provide breastfeeding employees with a reasonable break time to express milk for up to one year after childbirth. Additionally, employers should offer a private room, other than a bathroom stall, for employees to pump milk at work.

Frequently asked questions