Legal Question in Employment Law in Alabama

In general, Alabama employers are required to provide a 30-minute meal/rest period to employees ages 14 and 15 who are scheduled to work 5 continuous hours. (Ala. Code 25-8-38). Alabama employers are not required to provide a meal period or breaks to employees 16 years of age and over, thus the federal rule applies. The federal rule does not require an employer to provide either a meal (lunch) period or breaks. However, if an employer chooses to do so, breaks, usually of the type lasting less than 20 minutes, must be paid. Meal or lunch periods (usually 30 minutes or more) do not need to be paid, so long as the employee is free to do as they wish during the meal or lunch period. You should speak to an experienced attorney if you want specific information regarding your facts.