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Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2026-01-09
Create Rules for Meals and Breaks

Create Rules for Meals and Breaks

Security: Either of these domains:
  • Set Up: Time Tracking
     domain in the Time Tracking functional area.
  • Set Up: Scheduling: High Level Scheduling Settings
     in the Workday Scheduling functional area.
You can define rules for the number, length, and placement of meals and breaks within a shift to comply with legal or company regulations. You can then use the rules when configuring time attestations.
For time attestations, Workday accounts the total time from first clock-in to final clock-out, without subtracting meal breaks from the shift duration.
  1. Access the
    Create Meal Break Rule Set
     task.
  2. Add a row and enter details related to the length of the shift.
  3. As you complete the
    Meal and Break Details
    , consider:
    Option
    Description
    Meal Order
    Break Order
    You can configure the order of meals and breaks within a shift.
    Length (Minutes)
    Enter the length of the meal or break.
    Waiver Allowed
    Select when your company policies allow the worker to waive their meal.
    Rule
    Select a placement rule that determines when the meal or break must occur within the shift.
    If you're using Workday Scheduling, we recommend you create meal placement rules that provide for 60 minutes of worked time and the placement of a break before the first meal. Example: When breaks are at least 15 minutes long, and a break begins at least 1 hour after the beginning of the shift, place the meal at least 2.25 hours after the beginning of the shift.
    Hours
    The number of hours that correspond to the placement rule you select.
    When you create placement rules that don't allow time for meals or breaks, managers receive an error message when they try to create schedules. Example: You create a rule for an 8-hour shift. The rule requires 1 meal that must be at least 4 hours after the beginning of the shift and at least 4 hours before the end of the shift. Workday enables you to create the rule, but the rule doesn't allow for the placement of the meal. When you use this rule in Workday Scheduling, Workday creates the schedule and displays a message warning about the missing meal.
Workers must receive 2 15-minute breaks and 1 30-minute meal when they work between 8 and 10 hours in a shift. You want to configure:
  • The first break to occur after the first 2 hours of the shift.
  • The second break to occur before the last 2 hours of the shift.
  • The meal to be at least 4 hours after the beginning of the shift.
You also want to enable workers to waive their meal.
  1. Enter these shift values:
    Field
    Value
    If Shift Is
    greater than
    Length (Hours)
    8
    And If Shift Is
    less than
    Length (Hours)
    10
  2. Select
    Meal and Break Details
    , and enter these meal values:
    Field
    Value
    Length (Minutes)
    30
    Waiver Allowed
    Yes
    Rule
    Begins At Least X Hours After Beginning of Shift
    Hours
    4
  3. Add a row to the breaks grid, and enter these values for the first break:
    Field
    Value
    Length (Minutes)
    15
    Rule
    Begins At Least X Hours After Beginning of Shift
    Hours
    2
  4. Add a second break row, and enter these values:
    Field
    Value
    Length (Minutes)
    15
    Rule
    Begins At Least X Hours Before End of Shift
    Hours
    2
Create end of shift time attestations.