CODE:  30-01-50-35:00        EFFECTIVE DATE:  07/01/90        REVISION DATE:  03/15/98        LAST REVIEWED:  12/20/04

PURPOSE: To set policy determining the definition and granting of mealtime for non-exempt staff members.

RESPONSIBILITY: The Vice President for Human Resources is to ensure compliance with this policy.

POLICY:

For this policy mealtime is defined as an undisturbed meal break that is a minimum of one- half (1/2) hour in duration.

No supervisor can issue a directive, prohibiting or preventing a staff member from leaving the University premises during a mealtime unless there is an emergency. However, you may be required to punch a time card out or sign out.

Non-exempt staff who are denied their meal break or who are not provided an uninterrupted meal break of at least 30 minutes will be compensated in some fashion, e.g., leaving early on the day of the occurrence, granting of another period during that same day for a mealtime or payment for the mealtime. If a non-exempt staff member is not compensated as noted above, the meal time must be counted as hours worked. If the hours worked is greater than 40 hours for the week, according to he Fair Labor Standards Act (F.L.S.A.), the staff member must be compensated at time and one-half ( 1 ) in cash or compensatory time for all time in excess of the 40 hours.

The exceptions to this policy are non-exempt staff who work for Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services and the Power Plant who do not have a "duty free" meal time and are therefore paid accordingly.

By Direction of the President:

Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance