Issuing Department Date Effective

DR. JOHN WARNER HOSPITAL

CLINTON, ILLINOIS 61727

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

TITLE PAGE 1 OF 2

MEAL PERIODS

ISSUING DEPARTMENT DATE EFFECTIVE

HUMAN RESOURCES MARCH 2, 2009

PREPARED BY DATE REVISED BELINDA RITTENHOUSE, DIR., HUMAN RESOURCES FEBRUARY 26, 2009

POLICY #: ORIGINAL DATE

HR - 2159 OCTOBER 1987

REVISES AND SUPERSEDES:

HR-2159, Meal Periods with an original date of October 1987 and last revised on January 28, 2005 prepared by Belinda Rittenhouse, Dir. Human Resources.

POLICY:

All employees scheduled for 8 ½ hours of work or more are required to take a 30 minute unpaid and uninterrupted meal period no later than 5 hours after beginning work. Meal periods are to be scheduled in such a manner that service to our patients is never interrupted.

Employees are asked to refrain from taking their meal period within their work area. The hospital encourages employees to leave their work area during meal time so that they are completely relieved of their duties.

When a particular or unusual situation occurs making it impossible for an employee to take a meal break during their work shift, the employee will be paid for that time worked. It is the responsibility of the manager or their designee to schedule the employee's time to avoid, as often as possible, those particular or unusual situations. If the employee’s 30 minute period is interrupted to perform a duty, the entire 30 minute period will be paid. However, the employee must have their manager or their designee notify Human Resources via e-mail that they had “no lunch”. Meals must be eaten in the cafeteria or in designated break rooms. (Please refer to policy HR-2157, Food Within The Workplace).

If an employee on occasion has a need to leave early from his/her scheduled shift, they may work through their meal break and take the thirty (30) minutes at the end of their shift, provided that the work load will allow the absence of the employee, the employee has given a written request to the manager or their designee waiving their right to a 30 minute meal period for that shift, and the manager or their designee has approved the employee’s written request.

Employees are encouraged to remain on hospital premises during meal periods. If the employee leaves the premises for meals, they must clock out and clock back in from lunch. If the employee leaves the premises to pick up lunch they must clock out when they leave and back in

when they have completed their 30 minute lunch period. Essential patient care areas are not permitted to leave the building if the department is going to be left uncovered.

For employee convenience, meals are served in the cafeteria from 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m.

Vending services are available outside of these hours.

All employees must stagger meal times so that all departments are sufficiently covered.

Bargaining Unit employees need to refer to the Labor Agreement.

STAFF:

All

EQUIPMENT, FORMS & LOCATIONS:

N/A

PROCEDURE:

N/A

DOCUMENTATION:

N/A

COPIES SENT TO:

ADMINISTRATION - ORIGINAL

ALL DEPARTMENTS

ORIGINAL – October 1987

REVISED - January 28, 2005

REVISED – February 26, 2009

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DIR. OF HUMAN RESOURCES DATE CEO DATE

INITIAL

AND DATE

REVIEWED ______