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.