Arizona labor laws do not mandate meal or rest breaks for most adult employees. That means that break entitlements for employees in Arizona depend largely on employer policy. However, federal law provides some guidelines for employee breaks under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
This article breaks down the key rules regarding rest and meal breaks, and the special break considerations that apply for minors and nursing mothers.
This Article Covers
- Rest Breaks in Arizona
- Meal Breaks in Arizona
- Breastfeeding Breaks in Arizona
- Breaks for Minor Employees in Arizona
- Penalties for Violating Break Laws in Arizona
Rest Breaks in Arizona
In Arizona, there are no laws mandating rest breaks for employees. However, employers choosing to provide such breaks as part of their company policy must adhere to some guidelines of the FLSA.
A short rest break lasting less than 20 minutes must be considered hours worked, mandating employers to pay their employees for these periods.
These hours will also be considered in weekly calculations when calculating overtime pay in Arizona.
Meal Breaks in Arizona
Employers in Arizona are not required to provide meal breaks under both state and federal law.
Just like rest breaks, employers may offer meal breaks at their own discretion. However, if an employer chooses to provide meal breaks, the break is unpaid as long as it is at least 30 minutes or longer, and the employee is completely free from their job duties, as per guidelines under the FLSA. Employers can also offer a shorter meal period under special conditions.
Breastfeeding Breaks in Arizona
Arizona does not have a specific state law mandating breastfeeding break times for employees, but the federal FLSA protections under the PUMP Act require employers to provide a reasonable break time for nursing mothers to express breast milk for up to one year after their child’s birth. Employers must also provide employees a private place (not a bathroom) to pump milk at work.
Breaks for Minor Employees in Arizona
There are no laws in Arizona that specify break times for minor employees.
However, Arizona law restricts when and how long minor employees can work. Minors under 16 in Arizona may work up to three hours on a school day and 18 hours per week when school is in session, and up to eight hours a day and 40 hours a week when school isn’t in session.
Penalties for Violating Break Laws in Arizona
Employees who believe their break rights under the FLSA have been violated can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. If a violation is found, the employer can be ordered to pay back wages and civil penalties.
Employees may also be punished for unauthorized extensions of their permitted length of work breaks under the FLSA guidelines.
For violations of FLSA’s Pump at Work protections for nursing mothers, the employer can be ordered to reinstate, promote, pay back lost wages, and cover liquidated and compensatory damages for the affected employee. These remedies also apply if an employer retaliates against employees for taking breastfeeding breaks.
Important Cautionary Note
This content is provided for informational purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, we cannot guarantee that it is free of errors or omissions. Users are advised to independently verify any critical information and should not solely rely on the content provided.
