workyard-logo Workyard Blog
Home
Features
Time Tracking Time Management Location & Mileage Tracking Job Costing Scheduling Integrations
Pricing
Resources
Guides Blog Workyard Reviews Help Center Contact Us About Us
LoginStart a Free Trial
Try Free

Manage Construction Workers’ Break Time With These Tips

April 29, 2022 by Nic De Bonis
Construction workers talking while on break.

Break times can make or break your construction business. Learn how to effectively manage your construction workers’ break time with these tips.

In This Article

  • Construction Worker Break Laws by State
  • 3 Tips for Managing Construction Workers’ Break Times
  • How Workyard Can Help With Construction Worker Breaks

For both employers and employees, break time is a valuable necessity. Employees who work without taking a break aren’t effective, productive, or safe. 

Unfortunately, break time can also be a serious headache for company owners and managers.

You’ve probably already experienced the following issues:

  • Employees not logging their break time. There’s no audit trail to prove that your employees are taking their breaks—and you have no idea how much time they’re actually taking.
  • Employees taking too much break time. Employees easily lose track of time, if their time isn’t being externally tracked. That’s hours you’re paying for but not getting any returns from.
  • Employees working straight through their break. It’s easy to tunnel-vision on a project, especially when it’s almost complete. While admirable, it’s not only unsafe—it’s illegal.

How can you make sure that your employees aren’t just taking their breaks but also logging them?

Construction Worker Break Laws by State

Some states, like California, have very specific laws about when workers must be given a break, while other states are more flexible. Let’s take a look at construction workers break laws by state.

State
Covered
Breaks
Alabama
Employees working more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Alaska
Under 18 working more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Arizona
None
None
Arkansas
Under 18 in the entertainment industry
30 to 60 minute lunch
California
Non-exempt employees working more than 5 hours unless workday is only 6 hours
30+ minute lunch

10-minute break every four hours
Colorado
Employees covered under Colorado’s minimum wage order working more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch

10-minute break every four hours
D.C.
None
None
Delaware
Employees 18+ who work over 7.5 hours

Employees under 18 who work 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Florida
Non-exempt employees who work over 4 hours
30+ minute lunch
Georgia
N/A
N/A
Hawaii
14 and 15-year-old employees who work over 5 hours
30+ minutes
Idaho
N/A
N/A
Illinois
Employees who work over 7.5 hours

Employees under 16 who work over 5 hours
20+ minute lunch


30-minute lunch
Indiana
Employees who work more than 6 hours
1-2 breaks totaling 30 minutes
Iowa
Employees who work more than 6 hours
30+ minute lunch
Kansas
Employees who work more than 6 hours
30+ minute lunch

If less than 30 minutes, the employee must be paid
Kentucky
Employees under 18 who work more than 4 hours

Non-exempt employees over 18 who work more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch


A reasonable period of break

Louisiana
Non-exempt employees who work over 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Unpaid
Maine
Employees who work more than 6 hours
30+ minute lunch
Maryland
Specific retail employees

Non-exempt employees under 18 who work more than 5 hours

5-minute break for 4-6 hour shifts

30-minute break for 6+ hour shifts

30-minute break for 8+ hour shifts with an additional 5-minute break for every additional 4 working hours
Massachusetts
Non-exempt employees who work more than 6 hours
30+ minute lunch
Michigan
Employees under 18 who work more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Minnesota
Employees who work more than 4+ hours

Employees who work more than 8+ hours
Reasonable break time for bathroom breaks

Reasonable break time for eating
Mississippi
N/A
N/A
Missouri
Employees under 18 in the entertainment industry
Reasonable break time for eating a meal every 5.5 hours

15-minute break every 2 hours
Montana
N/A
N/A
Nebraska
Employees who work at a mechanical establishment, assembling plant, or workshop
30-minute break per every 8 hours worked
Nevada
Employees working over 8 hours

Employees working over 3.5 hours
30+ minute lunch

10-minute break every 4 hours
New Hampshire
Employees who work over 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
New Jersey
Minor employees who work over 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
New Mexico
No requirements
Rest breaks under 20 minutes must be paid
New York
Factory Personnel

Retail Personnel

Employees working more than 6 hours
60+ minute lunch

30+ minute lunch

30+ minute lunch
North Carolina
Employees under 16 who work over 6 hours

Employees who work over 5 hours
30+ minute lunch

30+ minute lunch
Ohio
Minor employees for every 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Oklahoma
Employees under 16 who work more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Oregon
Employees who work over 6 hours
30+ minute lunch

10-minute break every four hours for adults

15-minute break every 4 hours for minors
Pennsylvania
Farmworkers and minor employees every 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Rhode Island
Employees who work more than 5 hours
20-minute lunch for 6 hours

30-minute lunch for 8 hours
South Carolina
N/A
N/A
South Dakota
N/A
N/A
Tennessee
Employees who work 6+ hours
30+ minute lunch
Texas
N/A
N/A
Utah
Minor employees who work 5 hours
30+ minute lunch

10-minute break every 3 hours
Vermont
Employees
Reasonable amount of break
Virginia
Employees under 16 who work more than 5 hours
30+ minute lunch
Washington
Minor employees


Employees working more than 3 hours longer than the workday

Employees who work more than 4 hours
Variable break times (10 minutes to 2 hours) based on age

Additional lunchtime of 30+ minutes


10-minute break for every 4 hours worked
West Virginia
Employees who work more than 6 hours
20+ minute lunch
Wisconsin
Minor employees every 6 hours worked
30+ minute lunch
Wyoming
N/A
N/A

The best way to make sure you are compliant with the law is to check with your state’s labor department website.

Did You Know?

Workyard helps you manage your construction workers’ breaks by automatically alerting them when they need to take one. Hours worked and break time are accurately logged within the app, providing the necessary paper trail to ensure that your employees are taking their breaks on time.

3 Tips for Managing Construction Workers’ Break Times

Now that you know the law, it’s time to start thinking about how you can manage your construction workers’ break time. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Communicate Your Expectations Upfront

Make sure your employees know what is expected of them during their break time. If you want them to take a specific number of breaks, or if there are certain activities that are not allowed, it should all be written in your employee manual.

2. Use a Break Timer, Such as a Mobile Time Tracking App

Workyard will keep track of how much break time your employees have taken. You’ll have an accurate, real-time record of what your employees are doing and where they are—and you’ll be able to pull reports for later. 

3. Regularly Monitor Your Employees’ Break Time

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make sure your employees are taking breaks. In construction, an employee not taking breaks can be dangerous for everyone. Workyard provides detailed and accurate reports to analyze employee break time and productivity.

Break times shouldn’t be complicated. With an accurate time clock app, it doesn’t have to be.

How Workyard Can Help With Construction Worker Breaks

If you’re looking for a way to streamline the break time process, Workyard can help. Workyard makes it easy to track hours worked, location, and break time—complete with a built-in break timer that can remind your employees when it’s time to take a break. 

If you’re ready to learn more about how Workyard can help with construction worker breaks, sign up for a free trial. No credit card, no obligation.

Category: Workforce Management
Previous Post: « Employee writing hours on paper timecard. What Is GPS-Based Time Clock: Benefits for Your Business
Next Post: The Step-by-Step Construction Cost Reporting Guide A man following a construction cost reporting guide. »

About Nic De Bonis

Nic De Bonis is the CEO of Workyard, an online workforce management platform designed specifically to help construction companies more effectively manage their labor and costs.

Nic has spent the past 6 years working with thousands of construction owners to build an easier way to track crew hours, manage costs, and ultimately increase profits. In addition, the platform addresses the pain of hiring skilled workers through an on-demand service that connects companies with trusted and skilled workers.

Nic has a proven track record of being a world-class technology builder. Before Workyard, Nic led Digital Channels at Commbank, where he created flagship products such as the Commbank App and MyWealth investment platform used by over 5 million customers.

Sidebar

Ready to unlock profits using Workyard?

Free for 14 days. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.

Try Free

Prefer to talk to a human?

Text/Call (650) 332-8623

Categories

  • Guides
  • Workforce Management
  • Time Tracking & Scheduling
  • Project Planning
  • Labor Cost & Recruiting
  • Product News & Updates
  • Tips & Tricks

Workyard provides leading workforce management solutions to construction, service, and property maintenance companies of all sizes.

Privacy  |  Terms

© 2020 Workyard ® All rights reserved. Site Map

Workforce Software

  • Product Overview
  • Intelligent Timesheets
  • GPS Time Clock
  • Construction Job Costing
  • Construction Scheduling Software

Resources

  • About Us
  • Pricing
  • Workyard Reviews
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Contact Us

Industries

  • Commercial Construction
  • Residential Construction
  • Electrical
  • HVAC
  • Carpentry
  • Property Maintenance
  • Drywall
  • Painting
  • Plumbing
  • Landscaping
  • Tiling
  • Flooring
  • Concrete