Meal Periods :
Bona fide meal periods are not work time. An employee who does not have a duty-free lunch will be compensated for time worked. In order to qualify as duty-free, a meal must be twenty minutes or longer. The employee must be entirely free from work responsibilities such as answering the phone, making copies or performing any work.
Some teacher aides may eat lunch with the students. When they are required to be with their students this is part of the actual workday and requires compensation.
Breaks/Rest Periods :
According to the FLSA, a break time of less than twenty (20) minutes may not be deducted in computing hours worked.
Currently, there are no State Laws concerning breaks and rest periods. The option to allow an employee a break or rest period is left to the discretion of the Administrator.
Breaks cannot be substituted for early dismissal. Aransas Pass Independent School District break periods are to be no more than fifteen (15) minutes.
Teacher aides generally are not given breaks or rest periods.