Human Resources
Policy/Procedure Title:Paid and Unpaid Breaks / Date of Issue:
April 1, 2009 / Policy Number:
HR425
Approved By: / Revision Dates: / Last Review Date:
Don Nickleson, CEO
Purpose:
¨ To provide Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS) guidelines concerning paid and unpaid breaks for all non-exempt employees.
Scope:
¨ All Comprehensive Pharmacy Services non-exempt employees.
Definitions:
¨ Unpaid Break - Time away from the work station for the purpose of having a meal (i.e., a meal break). Unpaid breaks are not counted as hours worked.
¨ Paid Break - Rest periods of short duration, running from 10 minutes to no more than 15 minutes, for the purpose of attending to personal matters such as getting a snack, using the restroom, making a personal call, etcetera. Paid breaks are counted as hours worked.
¨ Shift - The time an employee is scheduled to work in a day.
¨ Exempt employees – Employees who are exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state wage and hour laws. These employees are paid on a salaried basis and receive a pre-determined compensation regardless of the number of hours worked per day or week.
¨ Non-Exempt Employees – Employees who are not exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act or applicable state wage and hour laws. These employees are paid on an hourly basis, and will be paid overtime in accordance with federal and state law.
Reference Documents:
¨ Policy/Procedure, Time Tracking (HR455)
Policy:
I. Employees shall take all breaks as required by federal, state and local law. Paid breaks cannot be combined with unpaid breaks (i.e., meal breaks).
II. Shifts scheduled in excess of 5 hours shall include one (1) thirty-minute unpaid break (i.e., a meal break) except in limited circumstances when the meal period is waived in accordance with any applicable legal standards.
HR425 Paid & Unpaid Breaks Policy
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Procedure:
A. Site management may choose to have non-exempt employees log in/out for unpaid breaks (i.e., meal breaks). If a site chooses this practice, it shall apply it consistently to all non-exempt staff.
B. Non-exempt employees who take a meal break shall log in/out for meal breaks, or as required by their site management.
C. Employees who are unable to take a meal break shall obtain pre-approval of site- management.
D. If an unpaid break (i.e., meal break) is not taken, employees shall notify the site- level timekeeper per site practice.
Exceptions:
Any exceptions to this policy may not be made unless they are approved by the employee’s Manager and the Director of Human Resources.
These policies do not create a contract of employment for any length of time, nor does it change the at-will nature of employment. Some of the policies described may require further interpretations. The Company reserves the right to add, modify, or terminate its employee policies, practices and procedures and/or benefits at any time. This on-line policy supersedes all prior policies, including (without limitation, any hard-copy version of this policy previously distributed) and all prior practices and procedures on subjects covered in this policy. Because our on-line policies are updated from time to time, employees should review the on-line policies to be informed of the current policies in effect.
HR425 Paid & Unpaid Breaks Policy
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