How long is your break

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 18, 2015

Legally, for a twelve hour shift you are required to take a 30 minute break and two 15 minute breaks but

LOL.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Oct 19, 2015

A break? What's that?

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

Legally, for a twelve hour shift you are required to take a 30 minute break and two 15 minute breaks but
LOL.

There is no federal law requiring a lunch break (or any breaks at all). Many states do have a requirement, but it varies on each state.

The federal law states if a short break is taken (5-20 minutes), it should be a paid break. A longer "lunch" break (typically 30 minutes) can be unpaid if it is an uninterrupted break where no work or disturbances occur.

Texas follows federal guides and has no specific rules regarding it.

I am supposed to get 2 15 minute paid breaks in a shift and a 30 minute unpaid/uninterrupted lunch break. I don't think I ever get an actual 15 minute break at one time, but if you add up my potty breaks, it may add up to 15 minutes in a day, and I am sure I kind of zone out for a minute or 2 staring at my computer screen a few times a shift, so that is almost a break. Lunch, I actually get a 30 minute uninterrupted lunch about 1 of every 3-4 shifts. If I don't get a lunch, I clock out no lunch and get paid for it (which is the legal thing to do, and if work tells you to do otherwise, they are breaking the law).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

My workplace requires hourly staff to take two paid 15 minute breaks and one unpaid 30 minute break for shifts that are six hours or longer. This practice is common and perfectly legal.

Julius Seizure · Oct 29, 2015

No only legal, but the industry standard.