Denver, CO asked in Employment Law for Colorado

Q: In Colorado, if I work over 5 hours is a break required. My Employer offers on-the-clock free meals but NO breaks.

Hourly employee in Colorado. There are no breaks or rest periods during an 8-hour shift, but a free meal from the company is offered.

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James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: In Colorado, employment law requires that hourly employees are entitled to a 30-minute meal break when working shifts that exceed five consecutive hours. This break must be duty-free, and if it cannot be provided, the employee must be paid for this time. In addition to the meal break, employees are also entitled to a paid 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours of work, or major fractions thereof. Offering a free meal while working does not fulfill the legal requirement for a duty-free meal break.

If your employer is not providing these required breaks during an 8-hour shift, they may be in violation of Colorado labor laws. You have the right to bring this issue to your employer's attention. If the situation does not improve, you can file a complaint with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. It's important for employers to adhere to these regulations to ensure the well-being of their employees.

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