Office Hours

While this policy is optional, most employers include a provision to clarify their expectations for employees. Some state laws require that employers provide breaks for their non-exempt employees.

It is generally beneficial to include a statement that gives your organization and its managers the discretion to alter work hours to fit the needs of your organization. Also, some employers may be required to pay an employee for any breaks less than 30 minutes or any lunch period where the employee is restricted from leaving the premises or is “on-call” during lunch time.

Check with local counsel to determine whether state or local law requires breaks and paying employees for breaks or lunch periods.

SAMPLE POLICY:
OFFICE HOURS

Generally, most positions in this organization are 40-hours-a-week consistent with the organization’s standard office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a 30-minutes unpaid lunch period for non-exempt employees. The normal work week is Monday through Friday. These are the hours expected to be worked under normal conditions but are not a guarantee of hours to be worked or paid. Each employee is permitted to take two 10-minute breaks each day. Each employee should check with their supervisor for their individual work schedule.

Scheduling of lunch and break periods are to be determined in consultation with your supervisor and should not result in offices, phones, or other essential responsibilities, being left unattended. Lunches or breaks not taken may not be used for another type of privilege such as covering missed time, overtime pay, or an early departure.

Guidelines

The business administrator has the discretion, based on the needs of this organization and its employees, to alter these general hours to fit the specific needs of a department or an employee.

Acceptable reasons for such alteration may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the organization’s needs, business reasons, economic conditions, or other conditions with respect to this organization, family, or the individual.

This is a sample handbook policy only. Your organization is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. Accordingly, this document should not be used or adopted by your organization without first being reviewed and approved by a licensed attorney in your area. Brotherhood Mutual assumes no liability in preparation and distribution of this sample document.

Working Together © 2022 Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. www.brotherhoodmutual.com/working-together. Updated 9/2021.