This month’s policy overview is on Policy 4.29 Rest and Meal Periods. According to Illinois state law, hourly employees who are scheduled to work 7.5 continuous hours shall be provided an unpaid meal period of at least 20 minutes. The meal period must be given to an employee no later than five hours after the start of the workday (820 ILCS 140/3). Employees who work more than 7.5 hours in a row will be entitled to an additional 20 minutes break for every 4.5 hours worked.
Rest periods are left to the discretion of the individual supervisor unless provided for in a collective bargaining agreement. All hourly employees except those working less than 20 hours per week shall receive at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each 7-day period in addition to the regular period of rest at the close of each working day (820 ILCS 140/2).