--- title: "Employer Must Pay for All Breaks Shorter than 20 Minutes Notwithstanding \"Flex Time\" Policy" description: The district court granted the DOL’s motion for summary judgment, holding that the employer’s policy of excluding time for breaks less than 20 minutes... image: https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Two%20smiling%20students%20having%20a%20cup%20of%20coffee%20in%20college%20canteen.jpeg --- - [Client Portal](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) - [Employee Login](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) [![AxcetHR Solutions Blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/AxcetHR2021%20Blog/axcethr_logo_white%20(1).png)](https://www.axcethr.com/) - [About Us](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/) - [Corporate Philantropy](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/corporate-philanthropy/) - [Meet the Team](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/) - [Values and Culture](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/values-and-culture/) - [Kansas PEO](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/kansas-peo/) - 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[Human Resources](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/human-resources) - [Payroll Administration](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/payroll-administration) - [Employee Safety & Risk Management](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-safety-risk-management) - [Employee Benefits](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-benefits) - [All about COVID-19 in the Workplace](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/covid19) - [Kansas & Missouri HR News](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/kansas-and-missouri-hr-news) - [Kansas City Interest News](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/kansas-city-interest-news) - [PEO/HRO](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/peo) - Choose Topic: - [Human Resources](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/human-resources) - Payroll Administrations - [Employee Safety & Risk Management](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-safety-risk-management) - [Employee Benefits](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-benefits) - [PEO](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/peo) # Employer Must Pay for All Breaks Shorter than 20 Minutes Notwithstanding "Flex Time" Policy By [Jo McClure, CPP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jo-mcclure) on [Oct 23, 2017](https://blog.axcethr.com/employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy) 0 min read [0 comment(s)](https://blog.axcethr.com/employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy#comments-listing) Share this: - - - - [whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy](whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy) - [mailto:?subject=Employer%20Must%20Pay%20for%20All%20Breaks%20Shorter%20than%2020%20Minutes%20Notwithstanding](mailto:?subject=Employer%20Must%20Pay%20for%20All%20Breaks%20Shorter%20than%2020%20Minutes%20Notwithstanding) ![Employer Must Pay for All Breaks Shorter than 20 Minutes Notwithstanding "Flex Time" Policy](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Two%20smiling%20students%20having%20a%20cup%20of%20coffee%20in%20college%20canteen.jpeg) This case was before the Third Circuit on appeal by the employer. The district court granted the DOL’s motion for summary judgment, holding that the employer’s policy of excluding time for breaks less than 20 minutes long violated the FLSA. The Third Circuit agreed and affirmed, holding that the Fair Labor Standards Act requires employers to compensate employees for breaks of 20 minutes or less during which they are free of any work related duties. [Read more.](https://flsaovertimelaw.com/2017/10/20/3d-cir-employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy/) [![Jo McClure, CPP](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jo-24.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=Jo-24.jpg)](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jo-mcclure) Written by #### [Jo McClure, CPP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jo-mcclure) Jo McClure, CPP, is the Director of Payroll Administration at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has been a pivotal leader for over 20 years. With more than two decades of experience in payroll outsourcing and professional employer organizations (PEOs), Jo specializes in helping small to mid-sized businesses navigate payroll administration, employee benefits, and compliance. Her strategic leadership at Axcet focuses on implementing best practices in payroll management, compliance auditing, and risk mitigation. Jo obtained her Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation in 2006 and has held numerous leadership roles in the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Payroll Association, including President, Vice President, and Chapter Coordinator. A frequent speaker at the Midwest Regional Payroll Conference, she has also contributed articles to publications such as *Thinking Bigger Business* and *Kansas City Small Business Monthly*. Jo’s expertise has been recognized through industry publications. She co-authored the article *“High-Touch in the Age of High-Tech: How PEOs Can Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity”* https://peoinsider.org/articles/high-touch-in-the-age-of-high-tech-how-peos-can-embrace-ai-without-losing-their-humanity/ for PEO Insider (March 2026), alongside Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and authored *“PEOs in the Community: Axcet Making Philanthropy Part of the Company’s Culture”* https://peoinsider.org/articles/peos-in-the-community-axcet-making-philanthropy-part-of-the-companys-culture/ (November 2025). These contributions reflect her perspective on balancing technology-driven payroll and HR processes with the human experience, as well as the role of community engagement in building strong organizational cultures. Jo's specialties include payroll implementation, compliance auditing, and crafting best-practice payroll solutions that ensure businesses stay compliant while optimizing their processes. Published in: PEO Insider Read more [View all posts →](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jo-mcclure) ### Get HR Updates ### Table of Contents #### [Enrolling in E-Verify for Multiple Companies ![startup business, software developer working on desktop computer at modern office](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Jo%20McClure%20Blog%20Image%201000x667.webp)](https://blog.axcethr.com/enrolling-in-e-verify-for-multiple-companies) #### [![Natural Disasters and FMLA leave](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Skeletal%20remains%20of%20peaked%20roof%20on%20house%20hit%20by%20tornado.jpeg) Q&A: Natural Disasters and FMLA Leave](https://blog.axcethr.com/qa-natural-disasters-and-fmla-leave) ## Let us know what you think... ![AxcetHR Blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/AxcetHR2021%20Blog/axcethr_logo_white%20(1).png) - [Why Axcet](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/) - [What We Stand For](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/what-we-stand-for/) - [Expertise](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.axcethr.com/services/employee-benefits/) - [Human Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/) - [Payroll Services](https://www.axcethr.com/services/payroll-and-tax-administration-services/) - [Risk Management](https://www.axcethr.com/services/workers-comp-and-employee-safety-risk-management/) - [Meet the Team](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/) - [Subscribe to Latest Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/subscribe-to-the-latest-resources/) - [Resource Library](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/resource-library/) - [\[ Client Portal \]](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) - - - - - Search for: Copyright © 2023 Axcet HR Solutions – Kansas City's PEO Since 1988 | [Privacy Policy](https://www.axcethr.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms and Conditions](https://www.axcethr.com/terms-conditions/) | [**Join our Team – Careers »**](https://axcethrsolutions.prismhr-hire.com/) 10975 Grandview Drive Suite 200, Corporate Woods Building 27, Overland Park, KS 66210 | Call us: 913-383-2999 *The IRS does not endorse any particular For more information on [certified professional employer organizations](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/certified-peo/), go to [www.irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov).* Remove cookies ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=43031&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jo McClure, CPP", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jo-mcclure" }, "dateModified" : "2022-03-14T19:09:48.046Z", "datePublished" : "2017-10-23T12:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Employer Must Pay for All Breaks Shorter than 20 Minutes Notwithstanding \"Flex Time\" Policy", "image" : [ "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Two%20smiling%20students%20having%20a%20cup%20of%20coffee%20in%20college%20canteen.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/employer-must-pay-for-all-breaks-shorter-than-20-minutes-notwithstanding-flex-time-policy", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/_logo_axcethr_primary.png" }, "name" : "Axcet HR Solutions" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.axcethr.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Kansas City", "addressRegion" : "MO" }, "aggregateRating" : { "@type" : "AggregateRating", "bestRating" : "5", "ratingValue" : "5", "reviewCount" : "100" }, "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, "award" : [ "IRS Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO)", "Award-Winning HR Solutions Provider", "SHRM Certified HR Professionals", "HRCI Certified HR Professionals" ], "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "English", "contactType" : "Customer Service" }, "description" : "Award-winning Professional Employer Organization (PEO) providing comprehensive HR solutions, payroll services, employee benefits, and risk management to small and mid-sized businesses. 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