Many companies allow employees to go for breaks and meal periods in-between work to help them cool off, let go of some stress, and come back refreshed.
So if you are taking up an offer at Kroger and want to know about Kroger’s break policy, then this article is for you. Read on to discover what I’ve found through my research!
Kroger Break Policy
Kroger allows rest and meal breaks for its employees. Workers are entitled to a 15-minute (paid) break for 5-hour shifts, one 15-minute rest and one 30-minute (unpaid) lunch break for 6-7 hour shifts, and two 15-minute rest and one 30-minute lunch breaks for 7-hour plus shifts.
If you want to know more details about Kroger’s break policy for employees, whether there is any variation across Kroger stores, and much more, keep on reading!
What Is The Break Policy At Kroger?
Following the U.S Federal and State Laws, Kroger has a break policy that acknowledges two types of breaks — rest breaks and meal (or lunch) breaks.
Kroger counts rest breaks as part of working time, which means employees get paid whenever they take rest breaks.
However, lunch breaks are not classified as working time and are available optionally to employees, i.e. they don’t get paid for the time spent on lunch breaks.
Rest breaks at Kroger typically last 15 minutes while lunch breaks take a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of an hour.
As an employee at Kroger, you can expect that the company takes it seriously when you report late back to your duty post.
Although Kroger is compelled by both state and federal employment laws to allow employees to take breaks, reports from a few Kroger stores note that store management is often hesitant in this regard.
This means that if you’re not deliberate about taking breaks on your shift, you might end up forfeiting them as the company may not mandate employees to take breaks.
Since these are unpaid, most employees tend to request regular lunch breaks instead of longer ones.
How Many Hours Do I Need To Work To Get A Lunch Break At Kroger?
Kroger’s break policy allows employees to take a 30-minute unpaid lunch break if the employee is working a shift that extends for 6 hours or longer.
Do Employees Get A Lunch Break For 6-Hour Shifts At Kroger?
Kroger employees are obliged to go for an optional (unpaid) 30-minute lunch break during a 6-hour shift. They can also take a 15-minutes paid rest break during a 6-hour shift.
Keep in mind that this varies across states, with the following states permitting meal breaks when an employee is working 5-hour or longer shifts:
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Washington
Do Workers Get A Lunch Break During An 8-Hour Shift At Kroger?
Kroger employees can take two 15-minute breaks taken separately or together as a 30-minute break which is paid (part of regular work time) for a 7+ hour shift.
In addition to that, employees can also request a 30-minute to 1-hour lunch break which is unpaid and so employees will have to clock out for the duration of these lunch breaks.
Can I Skip Lunch Breaks At Kroger?
If you work a shift that is eligible for a lunch break, the conditions for skipping the lunch break are slightly complicated.
Before you understand these conditions, keep in mind that federal laws require Kroger stores to comply with these regulations.
For a 6-hour shift in which you are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break, you are allowed to skip the lunch break but cannot substitute your lunch break with a rest break.
However, you are not allowed to skip the lunch break for any shift above 7 hours which includes a 30-minute lunch break along with two 15-minute rest breaks.
The same rules apply for minors working at Kroger with the exception that they cannot skip the lunch break during a 6-hour shift either.
If you are a Kroger employee, you can also see our posts on Kroger bereavement policy, whether or not Kroger drug tests, and Kroger employee discounts.
Conclusion
Kroger allows rest and meal breaks for all employees and associates. These include a 15-minute (paid) rest break for 5-hour shifts, one 15-minute rest and one 30-minute (unpaid) lunch break for 6-7 hour shifts, and two 15-minute rest and one 30-minute lunch break for 7-hour plus shifts. A number of states such as California, Nevada, Minnesota, and New York allow lunch breaks for 5-hour or longer shifts.
