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ARTICLE · 13 FEBRUARY 2023

Not Remotely Helpful: DOL Issues Guidance On Compensability Of Teleworking Breaks

Seyfarth Shaw LLP
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The DOL has issued guidance to its staff – that might be relied upon by courts – that any break less than 20 minutes while working from home is compensable time, regardless of the reason for the break.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Noah Finkel
Noah Finkel
Kyle Petersen
Kyle Petersen
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Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL has issued guidance to its staff – that might be relied upon by courts – that any break less than 20 minutes while working from home is compensable time, regardless of the reason for the break.

Especially because this post is being released on a Friday, chances are that you are reading it while working from home. Before doing so, you might have fired up your home computer in the wee hours of the morning, and then grabbed your coffee from the kitchen. You logged in, checked for urgent emails, and then took a few minutes for breakfast. You got in some work, and then ensured your child was up and getting ready for school. You went back to work again, but then had to take the dog out for a walk around the block. After that, you resumed working, then took a full 30-minute lunch break, worked again for a few hours, and then met your child at the school bus stop. You got back to work, only to be interrupted a few times by that same child asking

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