Must municipal employees be allowed meal or rest breaks during a work shift?
The state recommends, but does not
require, that employers allow adult employees a minimum 30-minute duty
free meal period reasonably close to the usual meal times. Employees
under the age of 18 must receive at least a 30-minute duty free meal
period when working a shift greater than 6 hours in duration. See sec.
DWD 274.02(2), Wis. Admin. Code.
Meal breaks of less than 30 consecutive minutes in duration are considered work time and the employee must be compensated.
State law does not require that brief
rest periods, or coffee breaks, be provided to employees. Such matters
are to be determined between the employer and the employee. However,
rest periods of less than 30 consecutive minutes are considered work
time and must be paid for.