Compliance with workplace laws is an important part of creating a healthy professional environment. In Arizona, as in many other states, there are employer obligations around how breaks and rest periods should be dealt with. One example of a particularly relevant aspect of Arizona’s labor laws comes down to the duration of breaks and rest periods. The law requires that employees be provided a 30-minute paid, uninterrupted meal period at some point after working their first two hours on shift, and before reaching five (5) hours of consecutive work. For those employees who are working fewer than five hours in a row, a meal period is not required. For employees who are the exception and are simply working less than eight hours, a meal period is a requirement. However, employees are also entitled to a paid, 10-minute rest period for every four hours that they’ve been on the clock. Again, this is rather straightforward. Most of the time, meeting these legal standards isn’t all that difficult. And most workplaces dedicate the physical and human resources required to meet these legal standards. But the subtle nuances of compliance are worth understanding if you want to cultivate a comfortable workplace. Research shows that employees who have access to a clean, comfortable, ergonomic space are going to work better. That means your overall design needs to be evaluated periodically so that you can determine if they’re still effective and comfortable. At LTHOME, we’ve been helping people create beautiful spaces – and create the kind of living environments that are in full compliance with legal standards, from ADA guidelines to comfort levels and everything in between. The following definitions are critical when it comes to labor laws in Arizona regarding breaks: The employer can make meal and break times flexible, but they’ll still need to monitor for compliance with the law. You can have the spaces and resources you want, but if your commitment to compliant human resource practices isn’t as strong, you won’t be able to get the most out of your teams. Some businesses take things a step further and even provide nap areas. LTHOME has a lot of experience with current clients who work around California’s guidelines. We can use this information to help create a similar standard, one that can be in compliance with Arizona’s requirements, in a way that meets and even exceeds the comfort needs of your Arizona-based employees. Email LTHOME to learn more about creating a space that works for your employees.