Breaks & Employee Meals

Your rest breaks and meal periods will vary depending on your work schedule and duties. 

Breaks

• A fifteen (15) minute paid break will be given for every three (3) hours worked.

• You are entitled to up to two fifteen (15) minute breaks per day, for every three (3) hours worked.

• Your break begins when you are relieved by a substitute or instructed to take your break by your manager or lead.

• Breaks may not be taken consecutively, combined with meal period or accumulated for later use, without manager approval.

• Breaks may not be used to make up for tardiness, taken at the start of your shift, or permit you to leave before your shift has ended. 

Meal Periods

• Employees that work five (5) or more hours get an unpaid thirty (30) minute meal break.

• Because of the nature of dining service, meal breaks will be taken when assigned by the manager.

  • Ask your manager when will be a good time to take a meal break.

• The thirty (30) minute meal break is an unpaid period, and you are required to clock out when you go on the meal break and to clock in when you return.

• For safety and security reasons, you are asked to inform your manager if you are leaving the building for your meal period.

• Because some student shifts often are no longer than three hours, students may be allowed to eat a meal before or after their assigned shift at their dining location.

  • No employee meals, food, or beverages may be taken from the dining unit. 

Meals

• Each employee may have one meal per shift from the available menu selection as defined within each unit. 

• You may also have a beverage and a snack at your break(s). 

• Meals are intended to be eaten at work. No food may be taken from the dining locations; this policy is strictly enforced. Violation of this policy is grounds for discipline up to and including termination. 

  • If a student employee wishes to take a meal to-go, they would need to pay for a Meal To-Go

    • https://dining.ucsc.edu/meal-to-go/index.html