Employees should work with the pastor, principal, supervisor or agency director to schedule breaks appropriately. The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois requests that all employees accurately observe and record meal periods.

By law, any employee working or anticipating working at least 7.5 hours must take a meal period of at least 20 minutes prior to the fifth hour worked. Employees are required to clock out and not perform any work during the meal period. This meal period may be paid or unpaid depending on local protocol.

Though not required by law, paid break periods are encouraged to be worked into the employee schedule. The standard employee break schedule for a 7.5 hour shift is two 15-minute paid breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and include one 30-minute unpaid meal period. Again, this schedule is flexible and will be determined by the needs of the location.

If the employee knows in advance that he/she may not be able to take a scheduled break or meal period, the employee must let the pastor, principal, supervisor or agency director know.