Can an employer in Alabama make you work a 12 hour shift without a break if they pay you extra?

Answer 1

Yes, an employer in Alabama can make you work a 12 hour shift without a break - but they do not have to pay you extra. There is no federal or Alabama state law mandating that an employer must allow for any meal breaks or other breaks.

For information on federal labor laws concerning paid breaks, meal breaks and other breaks, see this website:

http:/www.dol.gov/dol/topic/workhours/breaks.htm

For information on Alabama state laws concerning meal breaks or other breaks, see this website:

http://www.humanresourceblog.com/2008/02/05/alabama-break-laws/

Also, here is an additional website that combines information on federal and Alabama state laws into a comprehensive summary:

http://blog.laborlawcenter.com/2006/07/27/alabama-lunch-and-break-law/

If an employer does allow for short breaks (20 minutes or less), they are still required to pay you for that time by federal law. However, if a break is 30 minutes or more (typically this would be a meal break), then they do not have to pay you for that time.