Colorado Labor Laws Breaks

What Are the Colorado Labor Laws for Breaks?

It’s important to have a good understanding of the Colorado labor laws for breaks if you’re a resident of Colorado, because all the states vary on this. There are even some states that don’t actually require as part of law the necessity for adult workers to have breaks.

In Colorado, though, it’s different.

You’ll be learning about….

1. Meal Periods

2. Meal Deductions

3. Rest Periods

4. Breasting Breaks(?)

5. Minor Employees(?)

What the Colorado Labor Laws Say About Meal Periods

The state basically says that employees do have a right to what the state considers to be an uninterrupted and duty-free meal period of at least 30 minutes once five consecutive hours have been worked in a shift.

The Colorado labor laws make it clear that employees actually have to be “completely relieved” for the purpose of pursuing activities of a personal nature. The reason being? The meal period by standard of Colorado labor laws must “uncompensated.”

This is, of course, typical when it comes to standards of meal periods during work. The Colorado labor laws, though, are specific when it comes to breaks being “completely relieved” of all work duties.

The laws also state that if an uninterrupted meal period doesn’t seem feasible for the particular job, an employee is allowed to have a “meal break” while on the job. The law considers it an “on-duty” break. The employee doesn’t go to a break room or leave the premises but is allowed to consume food while working, basically; however, this meal time is also uncompensated, not part of the working shift.

Understanding Deductions for Meals

By law, employees can actually have meals deducted from their checks if need be. The common deduction by law would be a reasonable cost or fair market value. An employer may not try to gain profits from that reasonable cost or fair market value.

In addition, the law states that every meal during those break times must be “consumed” before deductions can be allowed.

And What About “Rest Periods”?

Aside from meal breaks, the law does provide “rest” for workers as well. And the typical standard of law authorizes that every employee has a right to a 10-minute rest for every four hours of work.

These breaks, you’ll find, will not be deducted from the wages of a worker. And it’s not necessary for any worker to have to leave the premises to have his or her ten minutes of rest.

Are There Any Standards for “Breasting Breaks”?

You’ll find some states will have specifics in the statutes regarding breaks for the sake of nursing mothers. Colorado does not.

There is nothing in the law stating anything specific in regards to nursing mothers and any benefits for breaks they may have. Whatever the law provides for workers apply to nursing mothers as well.

What About Minor Employees?

Minor employees in Colorado enjoy the same break benefits during work that adult workers enjoy. There’s no specific law included dedicated to the minor employee