Rest and Meal Periods The Hospital, the Association and the bargaining 29 unit nurses have a mutual interest in nurses taking their meal and rest breaks. The 30 Hospital is responsible for providing rest breaks and meal periods; it is the nurse’s 31 responsibility to take them. Accurate reporting of a missed meal period or rest break is 32 not a basis for disciplinary action. 33 One 15 minute paid rest period shall be allowed for each four hour period of 34 employment, and one 30 minute meal period on the nurse’s own time. The Hospital will 1 comply with all legal requirements with respect to meals and breaks if not otherwise 2 provided in this agreement, with the understanding that all exceptions to such legal 3 requirements must be permissible under the law. To ensure compliance with all legal 4 requirements with respect to meal and break periods, the Hospital will provide adequate 5 staffing, which shall be reflected in the unit based plan described in sub-part F below. 6 The Hospital will work with the Association and nurses to accommodate nurses’ needs 7 and legal requirements with respect to meals and breaks as long as all 8 accommodations are either in accordance with or permissible under state and federal 9 law.
11 A. When possible, meal breaks will be taken during the following working 12 hours: 13 For eight hour shifts between the third and sixth working hour 14 For nine hour shifts between the third and seventh working hour 15 For 10 hour shifts between the fourth and eighth working hour 16 For 12 hour shifts between the fourth and ninth working hour
18 B. When possible meal breaks will be scheduled by mutual agreement; 19 management reserves the right to assign break time.
21 C. All other provisions regarding meal and/or rest breaks contained in the 22 labor contract, work instructions, or Bureau of Labor and Industries regulations 23 will apply.
25 D. It is the intention of the Hospital to provide rest and meal breaks 26 separate from each other. The option to combine one rest break with the meal 27 break will be allowed when mutually agreed upon. Patient care and unit staffing 28 will be the primary consideration when combining one rest break and the meal
