The following FAQs will answer questions about completing your timesheet.
Timesheet Completion: Meal Breaks and Rest Breaks
Q: I'm a non-exempt employee. When am I required to record a meal break?
A: Non-exempt employees who work more than 5 consecutive hours in a workday are provided with one 30-minute unpaid meal break, which must begin before the end of each 5th consecutive hour of work. Unlike meal breaks, rest breaks are paid time and do not need to be recorded. Please refer to the table below for the timing of meal and rest breaks.
Q: If I am a non-exempt employee and work 10 or more hours, am I required to take a second meal break?
A: Please reference the following table for a list of required meal and rest breaks:
| Consecutive Hours of Work | Meal and Rest breaks |
| Less than 3 | No breaks required |
| 3 to 5 | One 15-minute paid rest break |
| More than 5 up to 6 |
One 15-minute paid rest break One 30-minute unpaid meal break (to begin before end of each consecutive 5th hour of work) |
| More than 6 up to 10 |
Two 15-minute paid rest breaks One 30-minute unpaid meal break |
| More than 10 up to 14 |
Three 15-minute paid rest breaks Two 30-minute unpaid meal breaks (to begin before end of each consecutive 5th hour of work) |
Meal breaks are unpaid time and independent of paid rest breaks. Therefore, using rest breaks as a meal break is not permissible. Non-exempt employees are required to take their full 30-minute meal period and record the start and stop times for their meal period. If a non-exempt employee is unable to take a meal break due to work requirements beyond his/her control, the employee should notify his/her supervisor to explain the circumstances.
Q: I supervise non-exempt employees and approve their timesheets. What new responsibilities do I have with respect to timesheet review?
A: Supervisors/approvers are responsible for reviewing non-exempt employees' timesheets to ensure that meal breaks are taken and recorded consistent with policy and, for any missed or inadequate breaks, to follow-up documenting the reason for the missed meal break and exploring scheduling or other changes to ensure compliance going forward.
Q: I'm a non-exempt employee. What happens if I don't record a meal break?
A: If you work more than 5 more consecutive hours without recording a meal break of at least 30 minutes, you will receive the following message:
Q: When am I required to enter my meal and/or daily work hours?
A: All employees are required to complete their timesheet by the end of each day.
Q: Why are all non-exempt employees now required to utilize the Start/Stop feature?
A: Westat needs to ensure that we are in compliance with all applicable Federal and state requirements.
Q: Can I take my meal break after working five consecutive hours?
A: No. You must begin your meal break prior to the end of the fifth consecutive work hour.
School-Based Study Questions
Q: When does the more than 5 consecutive hours begin - when I begin traveling to the school, or when I arrive at the school?
A: The more than 5 consecutive hours begins when you begin traveling to the school.
Q: Why will I not be paid for all of the hours I am at the school, plus my travel time to and from?
A: Wage and hour regulations impose mandatory breaks for non-exempt employees. In order to comply with various state requirements and provide fair treatment, Westat has implemented this rest/meal break policy for all non-exempt workers, regardless of location.
Q: Must field staff working in schools take their 15-minute rest breaks while students are taking the assessments?
A: Yes, if field staff are working more than 3 consecutive hours (including travel time to the school), they must take a 15-minute paid rest break between hours 3 and 4. Rest breaks should be staggered so that only 1 staff person is on a rest break while students are being tested.
Q: How much non-working time interrupts "consecutive" working hours?
A: More than 20 minutes of non-working time interrupts consecutive working hours. For example, if you begin work at 9 am and work until 11:30 am and then meet a friend for lunch from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm; resume working at 12:30 pm and work until 3 pm - you have worked a total of 5.0 non-consecutive hours.
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