Break Rules Setup

Purpose

Break rules define, assign, and enforce meal and rest break policies centrally: when a break is due, what happens when it is missed (auto-deduct or flag), premium pay for missed breaks, and employee attestation. Configured well, they keep time tracking, payroll, and compliance audits consistent.

When to use this: before employees start punching. No break rules exist by default, and employees cannot record a break until a rule is assigned to them. Create one rule per break type you owe (for example a 30-minute unpaid meal and a 10-minute paid rest) and assign the rules to the employees they cover.

Who can do this: users with permission to manage Time Tracking settings (typically the Employer Admin).

Steps: Create a break rule

1. From the Time Tracking sidebar, click Time Tracking Settings, switch to the Break Rules tab, and click Add Break Rule. The tab's intro sets the intent: "You can create break rules in compliance with the FLSA act and your agreements with employees." Existing rules are listed with columns Break Code / Break Name / Type.

The Add Break Rule form is organized into accordion sections — Break Details, Break Eligibility and Missed Break Identification, Resolving Missed Breaks, Break Guardrails, Employee Notifications, Manager Notifications, and Assignment (Assign to Employees) — matching the sections below. Finish with Save or Cancel.

1. Enter the required break details:

Break eligibility (when a break is due)

Choose one of two modes. When to use which: Recurring suits a simple "a break every N hours" policy that scales with shift length. Custom suits state-mandated windows (for example, a meal break that must start before the end of the fifth hour) where each break needs its own timing. Custom is also the only mode that supports break waivers.

A. Recurring time interval. "Employees receive a break if they work more than X hours Y minutes," then "repeat every X hours Y minutes." UZIO does not prevent earlier breaks unless guardrails are on. It marks eligibility so an untaken break can be flagged as missed.

B. Custom time interval. Define each break individually (Break 1, Break 2, ...) with the entry duration that makes it apply and the mandatory window ("must be taken after ___ / before ___ from the start of the entry"). The window determines taken versus missed.

Exclude Unpaid Break Time from Break Eligibility. This checkbox sits directly below Setup Break By and appears only for By Custom Time Interval. It is unchecked by default on new and existing rules, so nothing changes unless you check it. You can check or uncheck it at any time. UZIO does not recalculate existing entries when you change it. An entry is evaluated with the new setting only if it is saved again, for example when it is edited.

• Unchecked: eligibility uses the full time entry, Clock In to Clock Out, including unpaid breaks. An 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM entry with a 1-hour unpaid meal break counts as 9 hours. Each break's threshold reads Applies if total time entry duration is greater than.
• Checked: unpaid break time taken during the entry is deducted, so the same entry counts as 8 hours. Paid breaks still count as worked time. The threshold reads Applies if paid worked hours is greater than, and the form shows "Break eligibility, break notifications and placement of missed breaks are calculated on paid worked hours."
• Only unpaid breaks recorded on the entry count, including one UZIO deducted automatically on an earlier save. A break the employee confirms only in the clock-out break pop-up does not count, and does not move the break windows.
• Missed breaks, automatic deductions and break premiums follow the result, so fewer entries may qualify when the box is checked.
• Break windows move later. With the box checked, unpaid break time pauses the break clock. Each break window starts and ends later by the unpaid break time already taken.
• The break start reminder, the missed break alert and the place a missed break is put on the timecard all follow the later window.
• While an unpaid break is in progress, the break start reminder and the missed break alert wait until the break ends.
• Switching the rule to By Recurring Time Interval clears the checkbox.

Use it where state rules say unpaid break time does not count as worked time when deciding which breaks are owed. With it checked, the break waiver limits are measured on paid worked hours too (Allowing Break Waivers and Enforcing Break Guardrails).

Resolving missed breaks

Expected outcome

• Assigned employees see their break options while punched in; eligibility windows drive missed-break detection.
• Missed breaks resolve consistently (deduction or flag), premiums flow to payroll automatically, and attestation answers are audit-ready.

Related articles

• Allowing Break Waivers and Enforcing Break Guardrails
• Missed Break Handling and Break Premium Calculations
• Breaks Assignment and Notifications
• Overtime Rules Setup and Compliance Controls