Day of Rest and Minimum Meal Period
Effective January 14, 2008, an employer's failure to
provide its employees with at least one day of rest every
calendar week and a minimum amount of time for meal breaks may
result in liability. Governor Spitzer recently signed
legislation increasing the monetary penalties to employers that
violate the day of rest or minimum meal period laws.
Under long-standing sections of the Labor Law, New York
State employers are required to provide certain employees with
at least one day of rest every calendar week and a minimum
amount of time for meal breaks. Currently, a violation of
either of these sections is punishable by a criminal fine not
to exceed $100 for the first offense. Because the Legislature
was concerned that these laws were not being enforced
regularly, it created higher monetary penalties for employers
who violate the law. On or after January 14, 2008, an
