Breaks and meal periods - Washington

Breaks

Federal law does not require that employers provide rest periods or coffee/snack breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks, usually lasting between five to 20 minutes, the breaks must be considered work time and employees are paid for the time.

Washington employees are allowed at least a ten minute rest break for every four hours worked. Employees should not work more than three hours without a rest period. If the work environment allows the employees to take breaks equivalent to ten minutes in four hours, scheduled breaks are not necessary.

Health care facility workers involved in direct patient care activities or clinical services have different meal and rest period requirements.

Infant-friendly designation

An employer may use the designation “infant-friendly” on its promotional materials if the employer has an approved workplace breastfeeding policy addressing at least the following:

(a) Flexible work scheduling, including scheduling breaks and permitting work patterns that provide time for expression of breast milk;

(b) A convenient, sanitary, safe, and private location, other than a restroom, allowing privacy for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk;

(c) A convenient clean and safe water source with facilities for washing hands and rinsing breast-pumping equipment located in the private location; and

(d) A convenient hygienic refrigerator in the workplace for the mother’s breast milk.

Employers seeking approval of a workplace breastfeeding policy must submit the policy to the Department of Health. The department will review and approve those policies that meet the requirements.

Meal periods

Federal law does not require that employers provide meal periods. Bona fide meal periods, which typically last between 30 and 60 minutes, serve a different purpose than a break. During meal periods, the employee must be completely relieved from duty. Bona fide meal periods are not considered work time and are not compensable. If an employee is not totally relieved of job duties during the time he or she is eating a meal, then the employee must be paid for that time.

In Washington, employees are not to work more than five consecutive hours without a meal period. The meal period should be at least 30 minutes long and should occur between the second and fifth hour of work. Employers who require the employee to stay on duty on the premises during the meal period, must compensate the employee for that time.

Health care facility workers involved in direct patient care activities or clinical services have different meal and rest period requirements.