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Maine, Meal and Rest Periods Law Summaries

Meal and Rest Periods Law Summaries

Meal and Rest Periods Law Summaries

Maine, Meal and Rest Periods Law Summaries

Maine's meal and rest periods law is located in the Maine Revised Statutes at Title 26, Chapter 7, Subchapter I-A. The state also has a law relating to nursing mothers (Title 5, Sec. 4634).

WHAT THE EMPLOYER MUST DO

Employees cannot be required to work more than six consecutive hours without being allowed to take a rest period of at least 30 consecutive minutes. This rest time may be used by the employee as a mealtime. Exception is made in cases of emergency in which there is danger to property, life, public safety or public health. Collective bargaining agreements or other written employer-employee agreements may provide otherwise (Sec. 601).

The rest period requirement does not apply to small businesses having less than three employees on duty at any one time or where the nature of the employee's work allows for frequent breaks to be taken during the work day (Sec. 601).

Nursing mothers.- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be (Sec. 4634, as added by P.L. 206 (H. 1039), L. 2001, effective September 20, 2001).

WHO TO CONTACT

Contact the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, at 20 Union Street, P.O. Box 309, Augusta, ME 04332-0309. Telephone: Labor Department, (207) 287-3788; Labor Standards Bureau, (207) 624-6400.

PENALTIES

Violation of Maine's hours of employment law is a civil violation, subject to forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each violation (Sec. 602).

Employers who discharge or discriminate against an employee because the employee has made a complaint to the Director of Labor, the district attorney or the Attorney General concerning a violation of Maine's hours of employment law commit a civil violation, subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 (Sec. 602).

Reprinted with permission. © CCH
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