Utah Labor Laws Breaks: What You Need to Know

When it comes to labor laws in Utah, employees have various rights and protections. One of the most important aspects of these laws is the requirement for employers to provide employees with breaks. These breaks are intended to provide sufficient rest and recovery to employees during their workday and to ensure that they can continue performing their jobs safely and effectively.

In this article, we will explore the various labor laws in Utah that govern breaks and rest periods for employees. We will also discuss the different types of breaks required by law, the duration of these breaks, and other relevant information employers and employees should be aware of.

Utah Law on Breaks

Utah labor laws require employers to provide their employees with adequate breaks to rest, eat, and attend to personal needs. According to the Utah Labor Commission, employees are entitled to a minimum of ten (10) minutes of paid rest time for every four (4) hours worked, or significant fraction thereof.

Additionally, employers must provide employees with a thirty (30) minute, unpaid meal break after a minimum of five (5) hours of work. This meal break is, however, not required for employees who work less than three (3) hours a day or for employees who work less than 30 hours per week.

Furthermore, employers are required to give nursing mothers a reasonable amount of time and a private location, other than a bathroom, to express breast milk. This time is counted as working hours and may be unpaid, depending on the employer’s policies.

Failure to provide these breaks and time off required by law can result in fines, penalties, and legal action taken against the employer.

Types of Breaks Required by Law

Apart from the minimum 10-minute rest breaks and the mandatory 30-minute meal breaks, Utah labor laws also govern other types of breaks.

Recovery and Rest Breaks

Sometimes known as “Best Practice Breaks,” Utah labor laws do not require recovery and rest breaks, also known as “breaks for those that handle tools, machinery, and materials,” to be included in an employee’s workday. However, while not mandatory by law, employers should consider such breaks as best practices that promote safety and efficiency while increasing employee morale and reducing turnover.

Nursing Room Breaks

Utah labor laws require employers to provide breaks for nursing mothers to express breast milk. These breaks must be taken as required by the mother to express milk and must not interfere with the employee’s normal work schedule. These breaks must also take place in a private location that is not a restroom.

10 to 15 Minute Rest Breaks

As stated earlier, Utah labor laws require employers to provide employees with a ten (10) minute break for each four (4) hours worked. This break should be paid and should be used for a period of rest and relaxation to help them function better during work hours.

Five Minute Rest Breaks

Utah labor laws require employers to give their employees a 5-minute rest break in the morning and another 5-minute rest break in the afternoon for positions that require strenuous physical work. This break should be paid, and the employee should be relieved of all duties.

No Rest Breaks Required

Utah labor laws do not require rest breaks for employees working fewer than three (3) consignments or for employees who work less than 30 hours per week. However, for employees who are allowed break periods, non-exempt employees are still allowed to take these breaks, even if they are not mandatory by law.

Duration of Breaks Required by Law

Utah labor laws require employers to provide a ten (10)-minute rest break for every four (4) or more hours worked, including a “significant fraction thereof.” Employers must also give employees a 30-minute meal period for employees who work five (5) or more hours per day. Employers can waive these meal breaks when:

– There is an agreement between the employer and employee that allows the employee to eat during work.
– The employee has a meal period arranged for and takes it while also taking the regularly scheduled rest break period.

For jobs that require physical labor or hazardous conditions, employers may need to offer additional breaks outside the regularly scheduled breaks. These breaks may be necessary to ensure the safety of employees and productivity.

In addition to meal and rest breaks, Utah labor laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodation for nursing mothers who breastfeed their children. This accommodation may include a private location, around-the-clock access to that location, and additional breaks to allow the mother to express milk.

Other Relevant Information Employers and Employees Should Know

Apart from the information provided above, employers and employees must know other essential details about Utah labor laws on breaks. Some of these details include:

Wage and Hours

Employers are required to pay their employees for any break allowed or authorized by the employer. Therefore, employers must maintain time and attendance records for each employee that accurately reflect the hours worked, including break periods, and the pay for such periods.

Violations and Penalties

Failure to provide breaks or inadequate time off required by law can result in significant consequences for the employer. Employers that fail to provide required breaks could face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation and additional damages if an employee sustains injuries due to the absence of required breaks.

Recordkeeping

Employers must keep accurate payroll records, including time records for each employee who performs work in Utah. These records should include information about the number of hours worked per day, the rate of pay, and any breaks taken. These records must be kept for a minimum of four (4) years.

Conclusion

In sum, Utah labor laws require employers to provide adequate breaks to their employees, including a ten (10)-minute rest break for every four (4) hours worked and a thirty (30)-minute meal break for employees who work five (5) or more hours per day. Employers must also provide reasonable accommodation to nursing mothers who breastfeed their children, with around-the-clock access to private locations for expressing milk. Employers must maintain accurate payroll records that document each employee’s work hours, including any breaks taken, and apply non-compliance with these laws could result in significant penalties.

Utah Labor Law on Breaks 

Utah Labor Laws: Breaks

Utah labor laws on breaks are few in number and do not state that an employer needs to give breaks to a person 18 years or older.  There are certain provisions for mothers that are breastfeeding under UT labor laws on breaks and federal law, and there are federal laws for labor unions and those practicing in certain occupations.  Some UT labor laws on breaks are discussed in this article.  You can also find more information about UT labor laws on breaks on laws™.com

Specific Utah Labor Laws: Breaks for Breastfeeding Mothers

There is no specific Utah labor law on breaks for breastfeeding mothers, but federal law allow mothers to take a break in order to express breast milk.  These breaks usually have to correspond with other breaks provided to employees according to Utah labor law on breaks under federal law, and the employer must provide a clean and private place for the mother besides a bathroom.

Apart from Utah labor law on breaks, §17-15-25 and §76-10-1229.5 of the state’s statutes gives specific rights to a mother.  These statutes gives mothers a right in UT labor laws for breaks:

§17-15-25

“The county legislative body may not prohibit a woman’s breast feeding in any location where she otherwise may rightfully be, irrespective of whether the breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding.”

§76-10-1229.5 basically provides the same provisions as the code listed above, and these rights give women rights within Utah labor law for breaks.  The law states a mother has a right to breastfeed in any location she has a right to be, so this law directly impacts Utah labor law on breaks unless the breastfeeding directly obstructs the flow of productivity.

Child Labor and Utah Labor Laws on Breaks

Under federal law (which controls UT labor laws on breaks), a minor cannot work more than 5 hours without receiving a 30-minute, unpaid break.  Additionally, §34-23-202 of the Utah labor laws on breaks under the legislature states that no child under the age of 16 can work before 5 a.m. or after 9:30 p.m. except  if the next day is not a school day. Additionally, this Utah labor law on breaks states a minor under 16 cannot work more than 8 hours in a 24-hour time period, or more than 40 hours a week.

§34-23-202 of the UT labor laws on breaks does not apply in some cases.  According to §34-23-208 of the Utah labor laws on breaks, §34-23-202 does not apply if the occupation is nonhazardous and the minor has received a high school diploma, a school release certificate, is legally married, or is head of the household.

According to §34-23-205 of the UT labor laws on breaks, children between the ages of 12 and 14 do not have to receive breaks because they are not allowed to work in any occupation or trade except as provided below:

• sale and delivery of periodicals

• door-to-door sale and delivery

• baby-sitting

• non-hazardous agricultural work

The occupations listed above do not qualify for Utah labor law on breaks because the occupations will likely not exceed more than 5 hours at a time.  The same conditions apply in §34-23-206 of the Utah labor laws on breaks.  Under this section of UT labor laws on breaks, a person 10 years or older can work in the following trades:

• delivery of newspapers

• shoe-shining

• gardening and lawn care with no power-driven equipment

• caddying

There may be other occupations for minors that do not apply under Utah labor law on breaks.  For more information on Utah labor laws on breaks in connection with federal law, visit the U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/