Our company used to give us two fifteen-minute paid breaks a day, but they were taken away recently. Is that legal?
by 
Cole143
ANSWERS: 4
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The laws regulating work breaks vary widely from state to state, so there's no simple answer to your question. For instance, the state I currently live in requires a paid 10 minute break in every 4 hour period worked, and even specifies when the break must be given. But another state I lived in had no requirement for a break at all, paid or not (other than a meal break). To find out what the laws are in your state, contact your state employment department or division. If they can't give you the answer, they can tell you who can. Tell them you want to know what the legal requirements are for work breaks. My guess is that if your employer stopped allowing them, they aren't required to provide them, but it's worth checking into.
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Yes. Most labor laws require you to take a half hour break if you work 5 hours or more. Any break time that is paid thereafter is purely optional and up to the employer.
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The comment to this answer is correct, contrary to my earlier answer regarding paid breaks. Federal law does not require them.
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Put it this way, as long as your company is a non-union company they can take away things from you, demote you, fire you, and cut your pay at anytime they want. As long as you do not have a contract that sets the terms and conditions of your employment, you are an at-will-employee.
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