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4200 Gem Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 (651) 747-2790 city@gemlakemn.org MEMORANDUM To: Gem Lake City Council From: Barbara Suciu, City Clerk RE: Employee Handbook – Update Meal Breaks per Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Changes Date: January 20, 2026 The Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry has made amendments to Meal Breaks. Staff is requesting to amend the Employee Handbook; Meals & Other Break Period to reflect the recent changes from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry. Here is the amended language. Meal and Other Break Periods Mealtime shall be provided to non-exempt employees who work six or more consecutive hours. Employees will receive an unpaid meal break of 30 minutes. Employee lunches should occur at a point during the day to allow ample work time prior to and following the lunch period. Employees should not perform any work-related duties during this time. Employees are expected to be at their workstation, ready to work at the end of the break. Generally, employees are not allowed to take their meal break as the final 30 minutes of the workday. A six-hour day must be worked to earn the 30-minute meal break. Paid rest breaks include two a 15-minute breaks (one generally during the first four hours of work and the other generally during the second four hours of work) period within each four (4) consecutive hours worked. Since this time is paid as time work you should not extend the allotted time away from your work area. Employees can choose instead to combine their two 15-minute paid breaks into one 30-minute paid lunch break. Breaks may be taken in conjunction with the meal break when receiving prior approval from the supervisor.