Unauthorized Deductions

Interrupted Lunch Breaks

Baltimore County, MD employment law attorney Bruce Luchansky answers the question: “My employer gives me a half hour lunch break and deducts a half hour of pay for that time, but I often interrupt my lunch to do work-related things.  Should I be paid for that time?”   Absolutely.  An employer only is allowed to deduct for a lunch period if you are relieved of all duties during that time.  For example, if you eat your lunch at your desk and are expected to answer the phones if they ring, then you must be paid for that time, even if the phone does not ring during lunch.  Many employers make this mistake, and employees often are cheated out of money they have earned for unpaid lunch periods.  Schedule a Consultation with a Maryland Employment Law Attorney If your employer does not pay you for your lunch period, consider contacting an experienced employment lawyer to discuss whether you are owed wages.

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Work Breaks in Maryland

Maryland employment law attorney Bruce Luchansky answers the question: “Is my employer required to allow me to take a break for meals or rest during my workday?”  Surprisingly, the answer in Maryland (in most cases) is no.  Although there are certain exceptions (such as in retail establishments that employ 50 or more employees), most employers are not required to provide their employees with a lunch break or rest period during the work day.  But if an employer does give you a break during the day, he must pay you for that time unless the break is longer than 20 minutes and you are relieved of all your duties during that time.  If your employer is taking unauthorized deductions from your pay, call an experienced Maryland employment attorney right away.

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