What is the law concerning rest breaks?

In Washington, employers must provide employees with a paid ten-minute rest break for every four hours of work. This break must be scheduled near the middle of each four-hour work period. The timing of the breaks must be scheduled by the employer and cannot be taken back by the employee. Employers must also provide employees with at least 30 minutes of unpaid meal break for every five hours of work. This break must be scheduled during the work day and cannot be combined with any other break. Employees must also be allowed to leave the work site during the meal break. It is important to note that employers are not required to provide rest breaks for employees under the age of 18 or for employees that work less than three hours in a day. Additionally, employers cannot use rest breaks as a way to reduce break times for employees. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries enforces labor laws related to rest breaks in the state. Employers that violate rest break laws can face civil and/or criminal penalties from state and/or federal authorities. As such, employers must take the necessary steps to ensure their employees are provided with the legally mandated rest breaks.

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What is the law concerning rest breaks?

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