What is the law concerning rest breaks?

In Texas, labor law requires that employers provide their employees with reasonable rest breaks. Employers are not required to provide rest breaks to all employees, but if they choose to do so, they must provide an unpaid break of at least 10 minutes for each four hours of work. The break must be given sometime in the middle of the work period and must be counted as hours worked for overtime purposes. The break should also be uninterrupted, meaning that employees must be allowed to spend the break however they choose, so long as it does not interfere with their job responsibilities. If employees are unable to take the rest break due to the nature of their work, their employer must allow the employee to take a compensated break of the same duration. Employers should also be aware that labor law provides additional rest break requirements for minors. Minors under the age of 18 who are employed in Texas must be provided with a 30-minute unpaid break for each five hours worked, which can be divided into two 15-minute breaks. Additionally, these minors must also receive an additional break of at least 30 minutes if their shift exceeds five hours. If the employee is unable to take the break due to the nature of their work, their employer must allow the employee to take a compensated break of the same duration. Finally, employers should also be aware of the consequences of not providing their employees with the appropriate rest breaks. Employers who fail to provide rest breaks may be subject to fines or other penalties as provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state labor laws. Therefore, employers should ensure that their rest break policies and practices are in compliance with law.

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What is the law concerning rest breaks?

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