There are no specific statutory,
regulatory, or Department-level policies regarding the
establishment of lunch periods. In particular, there is
no requirement to establish a lunch period (although it
is usually a matter of good management practice to do
so).
Limit on Breaks
Section
6101(a) (3) (F) of title 5, U.S. Code, places a
general limit of one-hour on breaks in an employee's
basic work day.
Bottom Line
Subject to the one-hour limit on breaks,
and any applicable bargaining obligation, Bureaus may
establish such lunch periods as they deem appropriate.
Note for LEOs
Lunch or other meal periods for non-exempt law
enforcement officers (LEOs) who receive AUO pay are not
breaks in the workday, and are counted as hours of duty.
See 5
CFR 551.411(c).
