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Michigan Labor Laws Breaks



Quick Guide to Michigan Laws and Breaks

Michigan Labor Laws: Breaks

In the state of Michigan, labor law for breaks specifies that employers are not obligated to give their employees a lunch or break unless they are under the age of 18.  However, according to Statute 409.112 Meal and rest period under the Michigan legislature, an employer must give a minor under the age of 18 a 30-minute break when working more than 5 hours at a time.  

If the employer does give a break period for a person over the age of 18, they are not required to pay the employee after 20 minutes under Ohio labor laws on breaks.  Some Michigan employers regard federal labor laws, and some of these laws are discussed in the next section.  

Federal Laws on Breaks

Like Michigan labor laws on breaks, federal law does not require an employer to give a rest period to an employee over the age of 18.  If the employer does give a break, they must pay an employee if the break is less than 20 minutes.  Additionally, lunch breaks are not required by federal law for workers over the age of 18, but federal law does state that a meal break that lasts over 30 minutes will be unpaid (unless the employer provides otherwise in the contract).  

A 30-minute “uninterrupted break” under Michigan labor law for breaks and federal law means the employee is not allowed to have their break interrupted by work-related duties such as even picking up the phone.  

There is one new exception to an employer denying a break to employee under federal law.  Under the new Healthcare Reform, requires an employer to give a break to a new mother who is breastfeeding.  The federal law also states that an employer must provide the mother with private room even though Michigan law states breastfeeding does not constitute public nudity.  See statute 117.5(h) for breastfeeding exemptions.  

Vacation and Sick Leave in Michigan Labor Laws for Breaks

Under Michigan labor law within breaks, employers are not required to offer an employee vacation or sick leave benefits.  If the employer does offer vacation or sick time, Michigan labor laws for breaks state that employers must abide with all conditions listed below in this section.  

If an employer sets up the employee’s rights for accrued vacation time or sick leave time, they must pay the employee for those hours according to Michigan labor law on breaks.  Additionally, if an employer offers to pay for accrued hours after separation from the company, the employer is allowed to cap those payments after a certain amount of time according to Michigan labor laws for breaks.  

Holidays under Ohio Labor Laws for Breaks

According to Michigan law in breaks, an employer is not required to provide an employee with paid holiday vacation or overtime rates during those work hours.  However, in order to encourage employees to work during these periods of time, many companies provide extra compensation and overtime during holidays.  

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