Break Periods
To provide guidance on meal and work break requirements for hourly (non-exempt) employees.
All employees appointed to regular or temporary positions designated as hourly (non-exempt).
Non-exempt (hourly) employees working a schedule of six (6) hours or greater on a given day must be provided a minimum of a 30 minute unpaid meal break. The break shall be uninterrupted with no University related work performed during the break. This break is generally in the middle of the defined work schedule at a consistent timeframe as approved by the supervisor. Meal breaks cannot be added to the beginning or end of a work day. Supervisors must approve in advance any alterations to the established meal break. Meal breaks may be provided for non-exempt employees working less than six (6) hours, but they are not required.
Two paid break periods are normally allowed, but are not required, for non-exempt employees working with a schedule of eight (8) hours on a given day. The break period should not exceed 15 minutes for each four-hour period worked. Timing of the break period is at the discretion of the supervisor and cannot be accumulated and used as “compensatory” time and cannot be applied to the beginning or end of a shift, work schedule, or meal break.
Employees in union covered positions are required to comply with the terms as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement.
Employees whose primary work location is in another state or country will be entitled to breaks in accordance with those applicable laws.
Employees are expected to commence work immediately following the established break period. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
Human Resources
103 Carruth-O’Leary Hall
1246 W. Campus Road
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-4946
hrdept@ku.edu
09/20/2024: Updated Human Resource Management (HRM) to Human Resources (HR).
04/20/2018: New policy created for guidance on meal and work break requirements.
