No, employers do not have to pay employees for a lunch break as long as the employee is free from any duties for the entire meal period.
Employees must be paid for the lunch break if they are required to, or allowed to, remain on duty, they are required to be on-call at the business site or other designated worksite, or they are called back to duty during the meal period.
Nicole M. Bolan, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.
