| Topic: Food & Rest Period – Mandatory to take? | Issued by: V.P.,WorkSafe Services |
| Statute: General Regulation 91-191 | Date Issued: June 10, 1999 |
| Section: 8 | Date Revised: |
8 An employer shall allow an employee at least one-half hour for food and rest after each five consecutive hours of work.
Question:
Is it mandatory for employees to take their lunch hour?
Answer:
It is mandatory for the employer to provide an employee with the opportunity to take a lunch break, but it is not mandatory for the employee to take it. The choice is with the employee.
There are situations where, if an unpaid break extends the employee’s shift by half an hour, the employee may prefer to work through the lunch break and get off half an hour earlier.