Connecticut Meal and Rest Break Labor Laws

Under Section 31-51ii., the Regulations and Exemptions for Meal Periods are as followed.

a. The provisions of this section cannot be used to alter or impair the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement in effect on July 1, 1990.

b. Employees in Connecticut are not to be required to work for seven and one-half consecutive hours without a meal period of thirty minutes. The meal period shall be given after the first two hours of labor and before the last two hours of the employee’s shift.

c. The Labor Commissioner must exclude any employer from the requirements of this section if he/she finds that:

- the required labor for a position may only be performed by one employee

- complying would be conflicting to public safety

- the employer hired less than five employees for a shift at a single place of business given the exemption must only apply to the employees on that shift.

- the extended nature of an employer's type of operations in his/her establishment, such as the production of chemicals or experiments, which requires employees to be available to always respond to crucial or uncommon conditions and such employees shall be paid for meal and break periods.

d. These provisions cannot impede the right an employee or employer has of being a part of a written agreement regarding a different meal period schedule than the one required in subsection (a). 

e. If any employer violates any of the provisions stated in this section, he/she is prone to civil claims and penalties – under section 31-694.

 f. These provisions do not apply to professional employees that are certified by the State Board of Education and are employed in a regional or local school district. 

g. These provisions do not apply to employers that already provide a paid thirty minute meal or rest break.