Meal Breaks and compensable time: Company owed $915K for pay errors Employees weren’t paid for hours actually worked It’s critical that workers who are entitled to meal breaks are given the chance to take them free of duty. If they somehow end up working through a bona fide meal period and aren’t paid correctly for it, the Dept. of Labor (DOL) may eventually come knocking. Six healthcare and rehabilitation centers in Michigan operated by Premier Healthcare Management Inc. systematically failed to pay employees when they worked through their meal breaks. Breaks were automatically deducted from their pay, whether or not they actually got the chance to take them during their scheduled shifts. Along with these issues, Premier Healthcare Management also didn’t pay employees for time they worked before and after their shifts. As a result, the DOL ordered the company to pay $915,223 in back wages to 1,389 employees. Handling meal periods While the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn’t require meal breaks, state laws may mandate them in some cases. Companies that offer workers bona fide meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes) don’t’ have to pay them for that time as longs as they’re totally relieved from duty. Hourly workers who eat lunch at their desks while catching up on the day’s work must be paid for that time. With that in mind, it’s essential for supervisors to stress the importance of taking a full meal break. More info: dol.gov/whd/flsa/faq.htm