An employee is entitled to a break of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours of work. This break must be no later than the end of the third hour of the shift.
If the employee works more than 5 hours in a shift, the employee must be allowed a 30 minute meal break. The meal break must start at least 2 hours into the shift but not more than 5 hours after the beginning of the shift.
Nicole M. Bolan, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.